Markelle Fultz is one of 15 finalists for the Wooden award. / Alan Chitlik, Sportspress Northwest

University of Washington freshman Markelle Fultz, the leading scorer in the Pac-12 Conference (23.2 points per game), was selected Saturday as one of 15 finalists for the 2017 John R. Wooden Award, presented annually to the most outstanding college player in the country.

Fultz is joined by three Pac-12 players, Lonzo Ball (UCLA), Dillon Brooks (Oregon) and Lauri Markkanen (Arizona), as well as by former Husky point guard Nigel Williams-Goss (Gonzaga).

Also named: Bonzi Colson (Notre Dame), Ethan Happ (Wisconsin), Josh Hart (Villanova), Josh Jackson (Kansas), Justin Jackson (North Carolina), Luke Kennard (Duke), Frank Mason III (Kansas), Malik Monk (Kentucky), Jonathan Motley (Baylor) and Caleb Swanigan (Purdue).

Fultz, also one of 10 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award for the nation’s top point guard, has the highest scoring average by a Pac-12 player in 20 years. He leads the league by five points.

Fultz has scored 579 points, a record by a UW freshman. He’s close to becoming the second player in UW history to record 600 points, 150 rebounds and 150 assists in a season as he just needs 21 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Fultz has 24 double-digit scoring efforts in 25 games, 18 of which were 20 points or more and five were 30+ outings. His five games of 30+ ties for fifth-most in program history. Three were in consecutive  contests.

Fultz also has four double-doubles, two of which were points and assists.
He led UW in points and assists in 15 of his 25 games played and led in points, rebounds and assists seven times.

The Huskies (9-20) concluded their regular season Saturday afternoon with a loss at USC.