Vucevic Named To Wooden Award Preseason Watch List

Oct. 4, 2010

USC junior forward Nikola Vucevic was one of 50 players named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 List, it was announced today (Oct. 4) by the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball's most prestigious individual honor.

Vucevic had a breakout 2009-10 season scoring 10.7 points and brabbing 9..4 rebounds per game to earn the Pac-10 Most Improved Player Award. He led the Pac-10 with 283 rebounds and became the first Trojan to lead the conference in rebounding since Jaha Wilson in 1995.

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 December's Midseason list and the official voting ballot released in March. The National Ballot consists of approximately 20 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round during the NCAA Tournament.

Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award 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 minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird (`79), Michael Jordan (`84), Tim Duncan (`97), Blake Griffin (`09) and Maya Moore of Connecticut (`09). Ohio State's Evan Turner and Connecticut's Tina Charles won the Award in 2010.

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 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.

2010-11 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50

Name, Height, Class, Position, University, ConferenceTy Abbott, 6-3, Sr., G, Arizona State, Pac-10Lavoy Allen, 6-9, Sr., F, Temple, Atlantic 10Kevin Anderson, 6-0, Sr., G, Richmond, Atlantic 10Talor Battle, 6-0, Sr., G, Penn State, Big TenKenny Boynton, 6-2, So., G, Florida, SECWilliam Buford, 6-5, Jr., G, Ohio State, Big TenAlec Burks, 6-6, So., G, Colorado, Big 12Randy Culpepper, 6-0, Sr., G, UTEP, Conference USAMalcolm Delaney, 6-3, Sr., G, Virginia Tech, ACCLaceDarius Dunn, 6-4, Sr., G, Baylor, Big 12Kim English, 6-6, Jr., G, Missouri, Big 12Corey Fisher, 6-1, Sr., G, Villanova, Big EastJimmer Fredette*, 6-2, Sr., G, Brigham Young, Mountain WestAustin Freeman, 6-4, Sr., G, Georgetown, Big EastAshton Gibbs, 6-2, Jr., G, Pittsburgh, Big EastSteven Gray, 6-5, Sr., G, Gonzaga, West CoastJordan Hamilton, 6-7, So., G/F, Texas, Big 12Elias Harris, 6-7, So., F, Gonzaga, West CoastJeremy Hazell, 6-5, Sr., G, Seton Hall, Big EastJohn Henson, 6-10, So., F, North Carolina, ACCCory Higgins, 6-5, Sr., G, Colorado, Big 12Tyler Honeycutt, 6-8, So., F, UCLA, Pac-10Robbie Hummel*, 6-8, Sr., F, Purdue, Big TenJaJuan Johnson, 6-10, Sr., F/C, Purdue, Big TenKris Joseph, 6-7, Jr., F, Syracuse, Big EastKawhi Leonard, 6-7, So., F, San Diego State, Mountain WestJon Leuer, 6-10, Sr., F, Wisconsin, Big TenKalin Lucas*, 6-1, Sr., F, Michigan State, Big TenShelvin Mack, 6-3, Jr., G, Butler, Horizon LeagueDemetri McCamey, 6-3, Sr., G, Illinois, Big TenE'Twaun Moore, 6-4, Sr., G, Purdue, Big TenMarcus Morris, 6-9, Jr., F, Kansas, Big 12Jacob Pullen, 6-0, Sr., G, Kansas State, Big 12John Shurna, 6-8, Jr., F, Northwestern, Big TenKyle Singler*, 6-8, Sr., F, Duke, ACCChris Singleton, 6-9, Jr., F, Florida State, ACCNolan Smith, 6-2, Sr., G, Duke, ACCTracy Smith, 6-8, Sr., F, North Carolina State, ACCDurrell Summers, 6-5, Sr., G, Michigan State, Big TenJeffery Taylor, 6-7, Jr., G/F, Vanderbilt, SECIsaiah Thomas, 5-9, Jr., G, Washington, Pac-10Trey Thompkins, 6-10, Jr., F, Georgia, SECKlay Thompson, 6-6, Jr., G, Washington State, Pac-10Joe Trapani, 6-8, Sr., F, Boston College, ACCBrandon Triche, 6-4, So., G, Syracuse, Big EastNikola Vucevic, 6-10, Jr., F, USC, Pac-10Kemba Walker, 6-1, Jr., G, Connecticut, Big EastDerrick Williams, 6-8, So., F, Arizona, Pac-10Jordan Williams, 6-10, So., F, Maryland, ACCChris Wright, 6-8, Sr., F, Dayton, Atlantic 10
(Based on a preseason poll. Players listed alphabetically.)*indicates player chosen to the 2010 Wooden Award ballot

Vucevic Named To Wooden Award Preseason Watch List

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Vucevic Named To Wooden Award Preseason Watch List

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