The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State athletics communications.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State seniors Melvin Ejim and DeAndre Kane have been named to the Naismith Award Midseason Top 30. The duo makes Iowa State one of six schools with two players on the list.
Ejim, a Toronto, Ontario native, is the leading scorer in the Big 12 averaging 19.1 points per game. He also ranks third in rebounding grabbing 8.7 boards per contest. Ejim is ranked among the Big 12’s top-10 in eight different stat categories. He is the only player in a power conference averaging at least 18 points and eight rebounds while also shooting 50 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range. Ejim scored a Big 12 record 48 points against TCU last Saturday.
Kane, a Pittsburgh, Pa. native, has been a stat-sheet stuffer for the Cyclones. He is averaging 15.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists, making him one of just two players nationally to average more than 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Kane scored a season-high 30 points against Baylor, while also dishing out nine assists, grabbing eight rebounds and five steals.
The Cyclones will be back in action Saturday when they host Texas Tech at 12:45 p.m.
Naismith Top 30
Kyle Anderson, UCLA
Keith Appling, Michigan State
Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico
James Bell, Villanova
Bryce Cotton, Providence
Cleanthony Early, Wichita State
Melvin Ejim, Iowa State
Joel Embiid, Kansas
Tyler Ennis, Syracuse
C.J. Fair, Syracuse
Aaron Gordon, Arizona
Gary Harris, Michigan State
Joe Jackson, Memphis
Nick Johnson, Arizona
DeAndre Kane, Iowa State
Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati
Roy Devyn Marble, Iowa
Doug McDermott, Creighton
Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
Jabari Parker, Duke
Lamar Patterson, Pittsburgh
Casey Prather, Florida
Julius Randle, Kentucky
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
Russ Smith, Louisville
Nik Stauskas, Michigan
Xavier Thames, San Diego State
Fred VanVleet, Wichita State
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
Chaz Williams, Massachusetts
