Ben Simmons, Jamal Murray headline Wooden Award midseason watch list
LSU’s Ben Simmons and Kentucky’s Jamal Murray are the only two freshman to make Wooden Award midseason top 25 list, which was released on Wednesday.
Simmons is averaging 20.3 points, 12.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game this season. The guard’s impressive play has caught the attention of many, including President Barack Obama and former NBA star Magic Johnson.
Murray leads the Wildcats in points, scoring 282 so far this season. The 6’5”, 207-pound guard is averaging 17.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game for Kentucky.
Other notable names on the list are Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine, Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield and North Carolina’s Brice Johnson.
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In total, there are 14 seniors, seven sophomores, and three juniors on the list. The ACC leads the list with five selections, followed by the Big 12 and Big Ten each with four, while the Pac-12 and SEC have three.
The final list for the Wooden Award will be released in March. The award will be presented during the weekend of April 7-9.
