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Iowa's Luka Garza wins Wooden Award, is consensus National Player of the Year

Iowa center Luka Garza was named the John R. Wooden Award winner on Tuesday, securing his status as the consensus National Player of the Year.

The Hawkeyes senior previously secured the Naismith Award and Oscar Robertson Trophy and was named National Player of the Year by The Associated Press, Sporting News and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He was also a Wooden Award finalist as a junior.

A two-time consensus All-American, Garza averaged 24.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 blocks while shooting 55.3% from the field and 44% from 3-point distance. Iowa finished third in the Big Ten with a 22-9 record and secured a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament before falling to Oregon in the second round.

An emotional Garza, whose jersey was retired, called the loss "heartbreaking" as his Iowa career came to a close.

Iowa center Luka Garza (55) dribbles the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Maryland, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Luka Garza has now swept the National Player of the Year awards. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

How will Garza fare in the NBA?

Garza told Yahoo Sports' Andy Behrens recently that he's modeling his game after NBA centers Enes Kanter, Jusuf Nurkic and Brook Lopez as he prepares for the next level. Yahoo Sports' Krysten Peek projected Garza to be selected in the second round with the No. 58 pick by the New York Knicks in her latest mock draft. While he excelled at the college game, there are concerns about his skill set and athleticism translating to the NBA.

UConn's Paige Bueckers was named the Wooden Award winner in women's basketball on Monday, becoming the first freshman woman to ever earn the honor.

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