ATLANTA, Ga. — University of Dayton redshirt sophomore Obi Toppin is one of 10 outstanding men's college basketball players who were named today as semifinalists by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club for the Citizen Naismith Trophy.  The Naismith Trophy is presented annually to the top collegiate men's basketball player. 

The other semifinalists are Udoka Azubuike (Kansas), Vernon Carey Jr. (Duke), Devon Dotson (Kansas), Malachi Flynn (San Diego State), Luka Garza (Iowa), Markus Howard (Marquette), Myles Powell (Seton Hall), Peyton Pritchard (Oregon) and Jalen Smith (Maryland).

The only player in Division I who is averaging 19.0 points a game, 7.0 rebounds a game and shooting over 60% from the field, Toppin continues to earn plenty of national recognition.    The best player on the No. 3 team in the nation, he is on the watch list of five national awards, including the Wooden Late Season Watch List and the Mid-Season USBWA Oscar Robertson Watch List .The Athletic tabbed him its Mid-Season Player of the Year. The Sporting News named him one of its First Team Mid-Season All-Americans.  

Toppin currently averages 19.8 points and 7.8 rebounds a game, while shooting .631 (228-361) from the floor and .388 (31-80) from three-point range.  One of the most efficient players in the country, he averages nearly 20 points a game on just over 12 shots a game.  In Friday's win over Davidson that clinched the 2020 Atlantic 10 regular season championships, Toppin had a double-double (23 & 12) and made 10 of 11 shots from the floor, including three of four three-pointers.

The four finalists will be announced on March 17, 2020.  The 2020 Citizen Naismith Trophy will be awarded at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Invesco QQQ on April 5, 2020, during the Men's Division I Championship weekend in Atlanta. 

The Atlanta Tipoff Club's national voting academy, comprised of leading journalists from around the country, current and former head coaches, former award winners and conference commissioners, all of whom base their selections on outstanding on-court performances during the 2019-20 college basketball season, will vote for the four finalists. 

Dayton will close out the regular season Saturday at sold-out UD Arena on Senior Night against George Washington.  Game time is 7 p.m. ET.