Mandatory Credit: Nick Krug – KU Sports

After a solid showing in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, the Kansas Jayhawks are up to No. 4/6 in the national polls, appear to be one of a handful of national title contenders, and have star freshman Cheick Diallo in the fold. Outside of a late-game collapse against Michigan State, the season has gone very well for Bill Self’s team thus far.

To add to the recognition, four Jayhawks were named to watch lists for major awards in college basketball.

Perry Ellis, Frank Mason III, and Wayne Selden, Jr., were named to both the Naismith Trophy College Basketball Player of the Year award list, which included 50 players in total, as well as the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Oscar Robinson trophy watch like for the top player in men’s basketball.

Selden, Kansas’ best player so far this season, leads the team in scoring at 17.2 points per game. His shooting percentage is at an all-time career high as well, making 54-percent from the field, and 57-percent from three-point range.

Ellis is currently averaging 15 points and 6 rebounds per game, while knocking down 44-percent of his three’s, giving the Jayhawks a major weapon on the outside from its starting power forward.

Mason, also averaging double-digits in scoring (12.5), is giving Kansas an extra dimension from the backcourt by grabbing 5.2 rebounds per game, and dishing out 5.7 assists to just 1.2 turnovers per game, a ratio Bill Self loves to see from his point guard.

Also named to a watch list is freshman Cheick Diallo, who found his name on the USBWA Wayman Tisdale Award, given to the top freshman in college basketball.

Even though he’s played just one game, Diallo becomes the sixth Jayhawk to average double digits scoring (13), and contributed 6 boards and 3 blocks. Diallo’s ability to alter shots with his presence makes him a potential defensive player of the year-level player, and his motor, which was highly publicized during his recruitment, was maybe as impressive as his stat line.

The Jayhawks are home on Saturday, Dec. 5, to take on Harvard for a 2:15 p.m., tip in Allen Fieldhouse. Need tickets to see your boys in crimson and blue? Tickets For Less has seats available for all 2015-2016 home games inside historic Allen Fieldhouse. With zero hidden service fees, what you see is what you get on all ticket purchases. Don’t miss your chance to see the Jayhawks take the floor. Get your tickets today and Go Hawks!