Two of Australia's brightest stars have been short-listed for the John R Wooden Player of the Year trophy in the US.

Patrick Mills, a second year starter from the ACT with St Mary's University in California, and Vanderbilt centre AJ Ogilvy, from Castle Hill in Sydney, are making a big impression on the American college game.

Both Mills and Ogilvy are products of the Australian Institute of Sport.

The JR Wooden Trophy is college basketball's most prestigious honour.

Andrew Bogut, Mills' team-mate on the Boomers' roster in Beijing, won the Wooden award three years ago before being taken by the Milwaukee Bucks as the top pick in the NBA Draft. Bogut was the first non-American to win the award.

Mills' selection as a finalist marks the first time a St Mary's player has been nominated.

In his debut season, Mills averaged a team-leading 14.8 points per game, while also leading the team in assists (111) and steals (57).

Ogilvy averaged 17 points and 6.7 rebounds in his freshman year. He also scored a game-high 25 points in an 84-65 pre-season win against the University of Alabama-Huntsville.