The 2008-09 preseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award All-America Team and Player of the Year trophy have been announced and five men’s basketball players from the Big 12 were part of the list.  The list is composed of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for one of college basketball’s most prestigious honors.  The five Big 12 players recognized is tied for the third-most among conferences nationally.

Texas has a pair of players, A.J. Abrams and Damion James, on the list.  The Longhorns are one of seven schools with multiple athletes on the preseason tally.  Also touted are Curtis Jerrells (Baylor), Sherron Collins (Kansas) and Blake Griffin (Oklahoma).  The Big 12 has had two Wooden Award recipients in its history ? Kevin Durant of Texas in 2006-07 and UT guard T.J. Ford in 2002-03.
 
Transfers, freshmen and medical redshirts are not eligible for the preseason list. These players and others who excel throughout the season will be evaluated and considered for January’s midseason list and the official voting ballot released in March.
 
In mid-January, the Wooden Award Committee will release the Midseason Top 30 list, followed in March by the National Ballot, consisting of approximately 20 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA.  The Wooden Award All-America Team will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round during the NCAA Tournament.
 
The 33rd annual Wooden Award ceremony, which will include the announcement of the Men's and Women's Wooden Award, and the presentation of the Wooden Award All-America Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award to Rick Barnes from Texas, will be held at The Los Angeles Athletic Club in April 2009.  
 
About the John R. Wooden Award
 
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is among the most prestigious individual honors in college basketball.  It is bestowed upon the nation’s best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA.  

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 as well as sent over 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps in the awards name.   Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with 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 Olympic athletes and the All-Americans, takes place at The Los Angeles Athletic Club on the Friday prior to the John R. Wooden Award Ceremony.

2008-09 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50