The Naismith College Player of the Year Award is given annually by the Naismith Board of Selectors. The first award was given in 1969.
| Year | Winner | For |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Zach Edey | Purdue Boilermakers |
| 2022-23 | Zach Edey | Purdue Boilermakers |
| 2021-22 | Oscar Tshiebwe | Kentucky Wildcats |
| 2020-21 | Luke Garza | Iowa Hawkeyes |
| 2019-20 | Obi Toppin | Dayton Flyers |
| 2018-19 | Zion Williamson | Duke Blue Devils |
| 2017-18 | Jalen Brunson | Villanova Wildcats |
| 2016-17 | Frank Mason | Kansas Jayhawks |
| 2015-16 | Buddy Hield | Oklahoma Sooners |
| 2014-15 | Frank Kaminsky | Wisconsin Badgers |
| 2013-14 | Doug McDermott | Creighton Bluejays |
| 2012-13 | Trey Burke | Michigan Wolverines |
| 2011-12 | Anthony Davis | Kentucky Wildcats |
| 2010-11 | Jimmer Fredette | BYU Cougars |
| 2009-10 | Evan Turner | Ohio State Buckeyes |
| 2008-09 | Blake Griffin | Oklahoma Sooners |
| 2007-08 | Tyler Hansbrough | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| 2006-07 | Kevin Durant | Texas Longhorns |
| 2005-06 | J.J. Redick | Duke Blue Devils |
| 2004-05 | Andrew Bogut | Utah Utes |
| 2003-04 | Jameer Nelson | St Joseph's Hawks |
| 2002-03 | T.J. Ford | Texas Longhorns |
| 2001-02 | Jason Williams | Duke Blue Devils |
| 2000-01 | Shane Battier | Duke Blue Devils |
| 1999-00 | Kenyon Martin | Cincinnati Bearcats |
| 1998-99 | Elton Brand | Duke Blue Devils |
| 1997-98 | Antawn Jamison | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| 1996-97 | Tim Duncan | Wake Forest Demon Deacons |
| 1995-96 | Marcus Camby | Massachusetts Minutemen |
| 1994-95 | Joe Smith | Maryland Terrapins |
| 1993-94 | Glenn Robinson | Purdue Boilermakers |
| 1992-93 | Calbert Cheaney | Indiana Hoosiers |
| 1991-92 | Christian Laettner | Duke Blue Devils |
| 1990-91 | Larry Johnson | UNLV Runnin' Rebels |
| 1989-90 | Lionel Simmons | LaSalle Explorers |
| 1988-89 | Danny Ferry | Duke Blue Devils |
| 1987-88 | Danny Manning | Kansas Jayhawks |
| 1986-87 | David Robinson | Navy Midshipmen |
| 1985-86 | Johnny Dawkins | Duke Blue Devils |
| 1984-85 | Patrick Ewing | Georgetown Hoyas |
| 1983-84 | Michael Jordan | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| 1982-83 | Ralph Sampson | Virginia Cavaliers |
| 1981-82 | Ralph Sampson | Virginia Cavaliers |
| 1980-81 | Ralph Sampson | Virginia Cavaliers |
| 1979-80 | Mark Aguirre | DePaul Blue Demons |
| 1978-79 | Larry Bird | Indiana State Sycamores |
| 1977-78 | Butch Lee | Marquette Warriors |
| 1976-77 | Marques Johnson | UCLA Bruins |
| 1975-76 | Scott May | Indiana Hoosiers |
| 1974-75 | David Thompson | North Carolina State Wolfpack |
| 1973-74 | Bill Walton | UCLA Bruins |
| 1972-73 | Bill Walton | UCLA Bruins |
| 1971-72 | Bill Walton | UCLA Bruins |
| 1970-71 | Austin Carr | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
| 1969-70 | Pete Maravich | LSU Tigers |
| 1968-69 | Lew Alcindor | UCLA Bruins |