DURHAM, N.C. – The two Duke captains, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, were listed among the top 30 midseason candidates for the Naismith Award announced Friday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Singler is averaging 17.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his final season and leads the team in minutes played (34.1) and three-point field goals (53). He is one of five players in school history with at least 2,000 points and 900 rebounds in his career. He currently ranks fifth at Duke and 18th in ACC history with 2,190 career points.

Smith leads the ACC in scoring (21.5) and assists (5.5). He is trying to become the first player in ACC history to lead the conference in both categories. He has 14 games this season with 20 or more points and three 30-point outings to lead the league in both. He is also tied for the NCAA lead with six games of at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. He has scored 20 or more points in five straight games and seven of his last eight contests.

Duke has two of the five players from the ACC on the Naismith Midseason Top 30. Florida State, Maryland and Virginia Tech each have one.

The winner of the award will be announced at the 2011 NCAA Men’s Final Four in Houston.

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