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College Basketball Talk’s Player of the Year Power Rankings

Shabazz Napier

AP photo

AP

Shabazz Napier

AP photo

AP

The 2013-2014 season is sure to be a thrilling Player of the Year race, so to keep track of it, we will be posting weekly Player of the Year Power Rankings for your reading goodness.

Who’d we miss? Who’s ranked too high? We love to overlook your team’s best player and overrate your rival’s superstar.

1) Shabazz Napier, UConn: Napier’s already made countless big shots in big moments this season, shining in UConn’s wins over Florida, Indiana and Boston College. He’s averaging 15.3 points, 7.0 boards, 5.9 assists and shooting 57.1% from three.

2) Jabari Parker, Duke: Parker is the nation’s best all-around offensive weapon. He’s more-or-less unstoppable at this level, averaging 22.1 points with shooting splits of 57.1/46.7/72.5. Should I mention, he’s averaging 1.6 blocks and 1.1 steals?

3) Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State: Smart struggled when Oklahoma State went down to Orlando for the Old Spice Classic, but he’s still posting 19.8 points, 4.9 boards, 3.8 assists and 2.9 steals per night. He’s cut down on turnovers and improved his three-point percentage as well.

4) Julius Randle, Kentucky: Randle has come back to earth a bit the past two games, getting exposed a bit against the length of Providence and Baylor. And he still averaged 14.0 points, 8.0 boards and 4.0 assists in those two games.

5) Doug McDermott, Creighton: McDermott bounced back from a rough week out in California by putting up 33 points on in-state rival Nebraska. The concern: if he struggled against GW’s Isaiah Armwood, what happens in the Big East?

6) Nick Johnson, Arizona: Johnson struggled a bit from the floor against UNLV, finishing just 4-for-15 from the floor, but he’s the most important player on Arizona’s roster. He’s a terrific defender, a 16.6 ppg-scorer and their best perimeter threat with Gabe York struggling.

7) Keith Appling, Michigan State: Appling needed to drop a bit after the loss to UNC, but it won’t hurt him too much in the long-term as long as he can shake off the hard-fall he took on his hip.

8) Russ Smith, Louisville: Is Smith trying to prove he’s a point guard? Since dropping 36 in a loss to North Carolina, he’s scored 37 points in three games, nothing 17 assists in the process.

9) Jahii Carson, Arizona State: Carson is still dealing with a nagging ankle injury that bothered him during The Wooden Legacy, but he had 23 points in a win over DePaul on Friday.

10) Lamar Patterson, Pitt: Patterson’s numbers are stellar -- 16.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.8 spg, 42.1% 3PT -- and Pitt’s undefeated, but this is nothing more than a courtesy mention until the Panthers beat someone relevant.

Others: Kyle Anderson, Ron Baker, Jordan Clarkson, Dylon Cormier, Aaron Craft, Tyler Haws, Alex Kirk, Rodney Hood, Roberto Nelson, Marcus Paige, Elfrid Payton, Elijah Pittman, Juwan Staten, T.J. Warren, Chaz Williams, Joseph Young