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LSU’s Simmons, Kentucky stars headline first Wooden watch list

The first Wooden Award watch list has been released, listing 50 of the top players in college basketball.
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The first Wooden Award watch list has been released, listing 50 of the top players in college basketball as early contenders for the sport’s top award. Kentucky and Indiana lead with three nominees apiece.

The Wildcats’ Skal Labissiere and Jamal Murray, both freshmen, and sophomore Tyler Ulis made the list, and the Hoosiers landed senior Yogi Ferrell, junior Troy Williams and sophomore James Blackmon, Jr. 

Duke, the defending national champions, boast sophomore guard Grayson Allen and freshman forward Brandon Ingram. Junior Nigel Hayes and sophomore Bronson Koenig cracked the list from runner-up Wisconsin.

Three of last season’s Wooden Award All Americans return, all seniors: Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia), Kyle Wiltjer (Gonzaga) and Ron Baker (Wichita State).

Among the notable freshmen on the list are touted freshmen Ben Simmons of LSU, Malik Newman of Mississippi State, California’s Jaylen Brown and Villanova’s Jalen Brunson.

The Big Ten features the most early nominees with 10.

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The full list of nominees is below.

Jeremy Woo

2015-16 John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy’s

Preseason Top 50 Nominees

Name

Height

Class

Position

University

Conference

Grayson Allen

6-5

Soph.

G

Duke

ACC

Zach Auguste

6-10

Sr.

F

Notre Dame

ACC

Ron Baker#

6-4

Sr.

G

Wichita State

Missouri Valley

DeAndre' Bembry

6-6

Jr.

F

St. Joseph's

Atlantic 10

James Blackmon, Jr.

6-4

Soph.

G

Indiana

Big Ten

Malcolm Brogdon#

6-5

Sr.

G

Virginia

ACC

Jaylen Brown

6-7

Fr.

F

California

Pac-12

Jalen Brunson

6-3

Fr.

G

Villanova

Big East

Kyle Collinsworth

6-6

Sr.

G

BYU

WCC

Kellen Dunham

6-6

Jr.

G

Butler

Big East

Kris Dunn

6-4

Jr.

G

Providence

Big East

Perry Ellis

6-8

Sr.

F

Kansas

Big 12

Yogi Ferrell

6-0

Sr.

G

Indiana

Big Ten

Rico Gathers

6-8

Sr.

F

Baylor

Big 12

Anthony Gill

6-8

Sr.

F

Virginia

ACC

Daniel Hamilton

6-7

Soph.

G/F

Connecticut

The American

A.J. Hammons

7-0

Sr.

C

Purdue

Big Ten

Nigel Hayes

6-8

Jr.

F

Wisconsin

Big Ten

Buddy Hield

6-4

Sr.

G

Oklahoma

Big 12

Danuel House

6-7

Sr.

G

Texas A&M

SEC

Brandon Ingram

6-9

Fr.

G/F

Duke

ACC

Demetrius Jackson

6-1

Jr.

G

Notre Dame

ACC

Brice Johnson

6-10

Sr.

F

North Carolina

ACC

Damian Jones

7-0

Jr.

C

Vanderbilt

SEC

Bronson Koenig

6-4

Jr.

G

Wisconsin

Big Ten

Skal Labissiere

6-11

Fr.

F

Kentucky

SEC

Jake Layman

6-9

Sr.

F

Maryland

Big Ten

Caris LeVert

6-7

Sr.

G

Michigan

Big Ten

Nic Moore

5-9

Sr.

G

SMU

The American

Monte Morris

6-3

Jr.

G

Iowa State

Big 12

Jamal Murray

6-4

Fr.

G

Kentucky

SEC

Malik Newman

6-3

Fr.

G

Mississippi State

SEC

Georges Niang

6-8

Sr.

F

Iowa State

Big 12

Marcus Paige

6-2

Sr.

G

North Carolina

ACC

Gary Payton II

6-3

Sr.

G

Oregon State

Pac-12

Jakob Poeltl

7-0

Soph.

F

Utah

Pac-12

Taurean Prince

6-8

Sr.

F

Baylor

Big 12

Xavier Rathan-Mayes

6-4

Soph.

G

Florida State

ACC

Domantas Sabonis

6-11

Soph.

F

Gonzaga

WCC

Ben Simmons

6-10

Fr.

F

LSU

SEC

D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera

6-3

Sr.

G

Georgetown

Big East

Kaleb Tarczewski

7-0

Sr.

C

Arizona

Pac-12

Isaiah Taylor

6-3

Jr.

G

Texas

Big 12

Melo Trimble

6-3

Soph.

G

Maryland

Big Ten

Tyler Ulis

5-9

Soph.

G

Kentucky

SEC

Denzel Valentine

6-5

Sr.

G

Michigan State

Big Ten

Fred VanVleet

6-0

Sr.

G

Wichita State

Missouri Valley

Tyrone Wallace

6-5

Sr.

G

California

Pac-12

Troy Williams

6-7

Jr.

F

Indiana

Big Ten

Kyle Wiltjer#

6-10

Sr.

F

Gonzaga

WCC

                # indicates player selected as a 2014-15 Wooden Award All American