POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Freshman guard Jao Ituka of the Marist men's basketball team was named a finalist for the Kyle Macy Award, which is presented by College Insider to the top freshman in Division I men's college basketball.
 
Ituka is one of 26 finalists nationwide for the award. The winner will be announced on Friday, April 1.
 
These 26 finalists comprise the Kyle Macy Freshmen All-America Team:
 
Taran Armstrong, G, California Baptist
Zack Austin, F, High Point
Paolo Banchero, F, Duke
Malaki Branham, F, Ohio State
Paul Bruns, G, North Dakota
Kennedy Chandler, G, Tennessee
Jyare Davis, F, Delaware
Tyson Degenhart, F, Boise State
Tucker DeVries, F, Drake
Jalen Duren, C, Memphis
Jordan Gainey, G, USC Upstate
A.J. Griffin, G, Duke
Elijah Hawkins, G, Howard
Chet Holmgren, F, Gonzaga
Tyrese Hunter, G, Iowa State
Jao Ituka, G, Marist
Denver Jones, G, FIU
Kino Lilly Jr., G, Brown
Frances Nwaokorie, F, UC San Diego
Jabari Smith, F, Auburn
Reyne Smith, G, Charleston
Payton Sparks, F, Ball State
Ray'Sean Taylor, G, SIU Edwardsville
Fousseni Traore, F, BYU
Sam Vinson, G, Northern Kentucky
Ty Ty Washington, G, Kentucky
 
Ituka was named Second Team All-MAAC and MAAC Rookie of the Year this season. He was named MAAC Rookie of the Week a program-record nine times in the regular season. Ituka ranked in the MAAC's top 10 in both scoring (15.3 points per game, third), and field goal percentage (.526, eighth).