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 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 | ACC | |
Ron Baker# | 6-4 | Sr. | G | Missouri Valley | |
6-6 | Jr. | F | St. Joseph's | Atlantic 10 | |
James Blackmon, Jr. | 6-4 | Soph. | G | Indiana | Big Ten |
6-5 | Sr. | G | ACC | ||
6-7 | Fr. | F | California | Pac-12 | |
6-3 | Fr. | G | Villanova | Big East | |
Kyle Collinsworth | 6-6 | Sr. | G | WCC | |
Kellen Dunham | 6-6 | Jr. | G | Big East | |
6-4 | Jr. | G | Big East | ||
Perry Ellis | 6-8 | Sr. | F | Big 12 | |
Yogi Ferrell | 6-0 | Sr. | G | Indiana | Big Ten |
6-8 | Sr. | F | Big 12 | ||
Anthony Gill | 6-8 | Sr. | F | Virginia | ACC |
Daniel Hamilton | 6-7 | Soph. | G/F | The American | |
A.J. Hammons | 7-0 | Sr. | C | Big Ten | |
Nigel Hayes | 6-8 | Jr. | F | Wisconsin | Big Ten |
6-4 | Sr. | G | Big 12 | ||
Danuel House | 6-7 | Sr. | G | SEC | |
Brandon Ingram | 6-9 | Fr. | G/F | Duke | ACC |
Demetrius Jackson | 6-1 | Jr. | G | Notre Dame | ACC |
6-10 | Sr. | F | ACC | ||
7-0 | Jr. | C | SEC | ||
Bronson Koenig | 6-4 | Jr. | G | Wisconsin | Big Ten |
6-11 | Fr. | F | Kentucky | SEC | |
6-9 | Sr. | F | Big Ten | ||
6-7 | Sr. | G | Big Ten | ||
Nic Moore | 5-9 | Sr. | G | The American | |
6-3 | Jr. | G | Big 12 | ||
Jamal Murray | 6-4 | Fr. | G | Kentucky | SEC |
6-3 | Fr. | G | Mississippi State | SEC | |
6-8 | Sr. | F | Iowa State | Big 12 | |
Marcus Paige | 6-2 | Sr. | G | North Carolina | ACC |
6-3 | Sr. | G | Pac-12 | ||
7-0 | Soph. | F | Pac-12 | ||
6-8 | Sr. | F | Baylor | Big 12 | |
Xavier Rathan-Mayes | 6-4 | Soph. | G | ACC | |
6-11 | Soph. | F | WCC | ||
Ben Simmons | 6-10 | Fr. | F | LSU | SEC |
D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera | 6-3 | Sr. | G | Big East | |
Kaleb Tarczewski | 7-0 | Sr. | C | Pac-12 | |
Isaiah Taylor | 6-3 | Jr. | G | Big 12 | |
Melo Trimble | 6-3 | Soph. | G | Maryland | Big Ten |
Tyler Ulis | 5-9 | Soph. | G | Kentucky | SEC |
6-5 | Sr. | G | Big Ten | ||
6-0 | Sr. | G | Wichita State | Missouri Valley | |
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