Ben Simmons ineligible for Wooden Award
LSU’s Ben Simmons is ineligible for the final Wooden Award ballot, and is not listed among the latest set of finalists for the award.
ESPN’s Jeff Goodman reports Simmons’s ineligibility pertains to his academics. An LSU spokesman told ESPN that Simmons “did not have the necessary criteria to be eligible.” Simmons was listed on the previous set of award nominees Feb. 10.
The Wooden Award maintains a minimum 2.0 GPA as a criteria for eligibility. Voting begins March 14.
Simmons, the likely top pick in the upcoming NBA draft, is averaging 19.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists as a freshman. The 6'10" forward was benched at the start of a game against Tennessee for an academic issue last month.
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The compete list of players on the national Wooden ballot is below.
Grayson Allen | Duke | ACC | 6-5 | Soph. | G |
Malcolm Brogdon | Virginia | ACC | 6-5 | Sr. | G |
Kris Dunn | Providence | Big East | 6-4 | Jr. | G |
Perry Ellis | Kansas | Big 12 | 6-8 | Sr. | F |
Kahlil Felder | Oakland | Horizon | 5-9 | Jr. | G |
Yogi Ferrell | Indiana | Big Ten | 6-0 | Sr. | G |
Josh Hart | Villanova | Big East | 6-5 | Jr. | G |
Buddy Hield | Oklahoma | Big 12 | 6-4 | Sr. | G |
Brice Johnson | North Carolina | ACC | 6-10 | Sr. | F |
Georges Niang | Iowa State | Big 12 | 6-8 | Sr. | F |
Jakob Poeltl | Utah | Pac-12 | 7-0 | Soph. | F |
Melo Trimble | Maryland | Big Ten | 6-3 | Soph. | G |
Tyler Ulis | Kentucky | SEC | 5-9 | Soph. | G |
Jarrod Uthoff | Iowa | Big Ten | 6-9 | Sr. | F |
Denzel Valentine | Michigan State | Big Ten | 6-5 | Sr. | G |
