ESPN lists PJ Washington as No. 5 player in college basketball

Over the last several weeks, Kentucky sophomore forward PJ Washington has not only been one of the top players in the SEC, but throughout the entire nation. Washington has averaged 20.7 points and 8.1 rebounds over his last nine games, scoring at least 15 points in each of those contests. He has also finished in double figures in each of Kentucky's last 11 games. Following a combined 43 points and 14 rebounds against No. 19 LSU and No. 1 Tennessee last week, Washington also took home USBWA National Player of the Week honors. With impressive numbers against stellar competition time and time again, it's no surprise that Washington is considered one of the top five players in all of college basketball. ESPN ranked their top 25 players in the nation, and the Kentucky sophomore came in at No. 5 overall.  "The scary thing about Washington's 23-point performance on 9-of-12 shooting against what was then No. 1-ranked Tennessee isn't that it was such a good game, though it was," ESPN said. "No, the remarkable part is that his performance against the Volunteers felt so representative and customary. This is what Washington does now, and he's running out of spots to climb higher on this list as a result. "At 6-foot-8, Washington has assumed the role of Kentucky's featured scorer as a nominal stretch-4. He averages one made 3 per contest and commands respect from opponents by shooting an excellent percentage from out there, but he's most dangerous in the paint. Again, ask the Vols: Washington wore out Rick Barnes' team on the interior, to the tune of 8-of-10 shooting on his 2s. The sophomore's season numbers say a relatively low 53 percent of his 2-point attempts are recorded at the rim, but that might be changing before our eyes, making Washington, if anything, even more dangerous." Duke's Zion Williamson came in at No. 1 overall, followed by Ja Morant of Murray State (No. 2), Brandon Clarke of Gonzaga (No. 3), and Markus Howard of Marquette (No. 4) before Washington slides in at No. 5. Tennessee flopper forward and Kentucky foe Grant Williams (No. 7) and LSU guard Tremont Waters (No. 18) are the only other SEC players on the list. (ESPN+) [mobile_ad]