The Los Angeles Athletic Club announced the 15 finalists this year's John R. Wooden Award on Saturday afternoon. The honor is handed out annually to the best college basketball player in the nation.

The Los Angeles Times reported the following players as finalists: Nick Johnson, Arizona; Cleanthony Early, Wichita State; Tyler Ennis, Syracuse; C.J. Fair, Syracuse; Gary Harris, Michigan State; Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati; Doug McDermott, Creighton; Shabazz Napier, Connecticut; Jabari Parker, Duke; Casey Prather, Florida; Julius Randle, Kentucky; Russ Smith, Louisville; Nik Stauskas, Michigan; and Andrew Wiggins, Kansas.

USA Today listed the 15 finalists in its own rankings of the college players, with the top five spots going to Arizona's junior guard Johnson (5), Louisville's senior guard Smith (4), Kansas' Wiggins (3) who was the No. 1 recruit in the country, Duke's Parker (2), and Creighton's McDermott (1).

Parker is a 6'8" freshman forward averaging more than 18 points and nine rebounds a game, while forward McDermott, a senior, is the second-leading scorer in the nation and has scored more than 30 points in a single game seven times this season.

USA Today ranked Wichita State forward Early at No. 13, UCLA forward Anderson at No. 14, and Michigan State's Harris at No. 15.

Early, a scrappy player, was the undefeated Shockers' best on the team while the 6'9" Anderson averaged 14.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists a game.

The award is based not only based on the player's athletic performance during both regular and postseason play, but on the player's character as well.

The John R. Wooden Award has previously went to Michigan's Alfonso "Trey" Burke in 2013, Anthony Davis of Kentucky in 2012 and Brigham Young's Jimmer Fredette in 2011.

Current NBA stars Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan, J.J. Redick, Elton Brand and Shane Battier have also received the prestigious honor during their college careers.

The Wooden Award will be presented to the recipient during the Los Angeles Athletic Club presentation at the Final Four, the weekend of April 11-12.