The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has named Kentucky forward TayshaunPrince one of the 15 finalists for the USBWA’s Player of the Year award. Prince, who wasnamed Southeastern Conference Player of the Week last week, is averaging 15.2 pointsand a team-leading 6.0 rebounds per game this year as the Wildcats have posted a 14-7record.

Joining Prince on the list is Duke’s Jason Williams and Shane Battier, Alabama’s RodGrizzard, Notre Dame’s Troy Murphy, Stanford’s Casey Jacobson, Michigan State’s JasonRichardson, North Carolina’s Joseph Forte and Brendan Haywood, Arizona’s MichaelWright, Iowa State’s Jamaal Tinsley, Indiana’s Kirk Haston, Central Michigan’s DavidWebber, Boston College’s Troy Bell and Xavier’s David West.The Player of the Year and the USBWA All-America teams will be announced in March.