The Big 12 Conference boasts seven men's basketball players on the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s Preseason Top 50. Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for college basketball’s prestigious individual honor.
Rico Gathers and Taurean Prince (Baylor), Monte Morris and Georges Niang (Iowa State), Perry Ellis (Kansas), Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) and Isaiah Taylor (Texas) represent their schools and the Big 12 on the first recognition of 2015-16. Baylor and Iowa State are two of 13 schools nationally that have multiple players on the list. The seven student-athletes included are tied for third-most among conferences.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2016 John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s. The Wooden Award National Advisory Board will select 25 players to the Midseason Top 25 in early January. In early February, the John R. Wooden Award will announce one final leading candidate list - the Late Season Top 20 - prior to the selection of 15 players to the National Ballot. Nearly 1000 voters will rank order 10 of those 15 players, who have been qualified as meeting the standards set forth by Coach Wooden. Voting will open prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during the early round games. The Wooden Award All-America Team will be announced the week of the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the John R. Wooden Award will be announced during the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show presented by Wendy’s on Friday, April 8, 2016.
About the John R. Wooden Award
The 40th annual presentation of the John R. Wooden Award will take place during the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show presented by Wendy’s. Texas Tech Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Tubby Smith, will be presented with the Legends of Coaching trophy during the show as well. The Wooden Award Weekend, April 7-9, 2016, will honor the male and female Wooden Award winners, the top five All-Americans, and the Legends of Coaching recipient, Smith.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed close to a million dollars to universities’ general scholarship fund in the names of the All-American recipients. The Award has also sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps in the Award’s name. Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with the Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long tournament, which brings together Special Olympics athletes and the All Americans, takes place at the Los Angeles Athletic Club the weekend of the John R. Wooden Award presentation.
2015-16 John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy’s - Preseason Top 50 Nominees (Big 12 Players Only)
Rico Gathers, Baylor
Taurean Prince, Baylor
Monte Morris, Iowa State
Georges Niang, Iowa State
Perry Ellis, Kansas
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Isaiah Taylor, Texas