University of Iowa center Luka Garza was named National Player of the Year by Sporting News on Tuesday, becoming the first player in program history to earn national player of the year distinction by a news outlet. Garza was also voted the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) District VI Player of the Year on Tuesday, as well as the all-district team. Joining Garza on the 10-player all-district squad is teammate Joe Wieskamp.

Garza and Wieskamp’s honor marks the sixth time in seven seasons that a Hawkeye has garnered all-district recognition (Devyn Marble in 2014; Aaron White in 2015; Jarrod Uthoff and Peter Jok in 2016; Jok in 2017; Cook in 2019; Luka Garza and Joe Wieskamp in 2020).

Joining the Hawkeye duo on the 10-player all-district squad are Ty-Shon Alexander (Creighton); Udoka Azubuike (Kansas); Kristian Doolittle (Oklahoma); Devon Dotson (Kansas); Marcus Garrett (Kansas); AJ Green (UNI); Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State); and Douglas Wilson (South Dakota State).

Garza’s national and district accolades come one day after being named Big Ten Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. Garza is the fourth Hawkeye in program history, and first since 1952, to earn the Big Ten’s top honor. He is a finalist for five national awards: Naismith Trophy, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Wooden Award, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, and the Lute Olson Award.