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ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association
has selected 23 outstanding players for its 2014 Oscar Robertson
Trophy Midseason Watch List. Members of the association's
board of directors chose the players to be included on the list
as contenders for the Oscar Robertson Trophy.
 The
award is to be presented to the national player of the year by its
namesake at the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards
on April 14 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in
Oklahoma City. The Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award
and the Integris Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award
will also be presented at the gala to be held annually the Monday
following the NCAA Men's Final Four.
Creighton's Doug McDermott, a first-team USBWA All-American
last season, headlines the list, while teammates from six
different schools – Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Michigan State,
Syracuse and Wichita State – are also lauded. Oklahoma State's
Marcus Smart, the 2013 Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the
Year and a second-team USBWA All-American a season ago, is also
featured. Overall, 10 conferences are represented, led by the
Atlantic Coast Conference with five players and the Big 12
Conference with four.
A pair of Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week from this
season are included: DeAndre Kane from Iowa State and McDermott.
The watch list includes 12 seniors to go with one junior, four
sophomores and six freshmen.
Following is the complete watch list:
|
2014 OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY MIDSEASON WATCH LIST |
| Pos. |
No. |
Player, School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| G |
11 |
Keith Appling,
Michigan State |
6-1 |
185 |
Sr. |
Detroit, Mich. |
| F |
41 |
Cameron
Bairstow, New Mexico |
6-9 |
250 |
Sr. |
Brisbane, Australia |
| F |
11 |
Cleanthony
Early, Wichita State |
6-8 |
219 |
Sr. |
Middletown, N.Y. |
| C |
21 |
Joel Embiid,
Kansas |
7-0 |
250 |
Fr. |
Yaounde, Cameroon |
| G |
11 |
Tyler Ennis,
Syracuse |
6-2 |
180 |
Fr. |
Brampton, Ont. |
| F |
5 |
C.J. Fair,
Syracuse |
6-8 |
215 |
Sr. |
Baltimore, Md. |
| F |
11 |
Aaron Gordon,
Arizona |
6-9 |
225 |
Fr. |
San Jose, Calif. |
| G |
14 |
Gary Harris,
Michigan State |
6-4 |
210 |
So. |
Fishers, Ind. |
| F |
5 |
Rodney Hood,
Duke |
6-8 |
215 |
So. |
Meridian, Miss. |
| G |
13 |
Nick Johnson,
Arizona |
6-3 |
200 |
Jr. |
Gilbert, Ariz. |
|
G |
50 |
DeAndre Kane, Iowa State |
6-4 |
200 |
Sr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| F |
3 |
Doug
McDermott, Creighton |
6-8 |
225 |
Sr. |
Ames, Iowa |
| G |
13 |
Shabazz
Napier, Connecticut |
6-1 |
180 |
Sr. |
Roxbury, Mass. |
| F |
1 |
Jabari Parker,
Duke |
6-8 |
235 |
Fr. |
Chicago, Ill. |
| G/F |
21 |
Lamar
Patterson, Pittsburgh |
6-5 |
225 |
Sr. |
Lancaster, Pa. |
| F |
24 |
Casey Prather,
Florida |
6-6 |
212 |
Sr. |
Jackson, Tenn. |
| F |
30 |
Julius Randle,
Kentucky |
6-9 |
250 |
Fr. |
Dallas, Texas |
| G |
33 |
Marcus Smart,
Oklahoma State |
6-4 |
220 |
So. |
Flower Mound, Texas |
| G |
2 |
Russ Smith,
Louisville |
6-0 |
165 |
Sr. |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| G |
2 |
Xavier Thames,
San Diego State |
6-3 |
195 |
Sr. |
Sacramento, Calif. |
| G |
23 |
Fred Van
Vleet, Wichita State |
5-11 |
194 |
So. |
Rockford, Ill. |
| G |
22 |
Andrew
Wiggins, Kansas |
6-8 |
200 |
Fr. |
Vaughan, Ont. |
| G |
3 |
Chaz Williams,
Massachusetts |
5-9 |
175 |
Sr. |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| By conference:
ACC (5); Big 12 (4); American Athletic (2); Big Ten (2);
Missouri Valley (2); Mountain West (2); Pac-12 (2); SEC
(2); Atlantic 10 (1); Big East (1). |
| By class:
Seniors (12); Juniors (1); Sophomores (4); Freshmen (6) |
While these standout players are the leading contenders to be
named to the USBWA's All-America Team and as finalists for the
Oscar Robertson Trophy, all Division I players remain eligible for
postseason honors from the USBWA. The association will announce
its 2014 All-America Team in mid-March. At that time, finalists
will also be chosen for the player of the year. Once finalists are
announced, the entire USBWA membership will vote for the winner
of the Oscar Robertson Trophy.
Tickets and sponsorship information for the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards
are
available at
collegebasketballawards.com
or by contacting Scott Hill (405-749-1515,
scott.hill@access-sports.net).
The April 14 banquet will also honor Kansas coach Bill Self as the recipient of the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award.
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player
of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University
of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year
Oscar Robertson. It is the nation's oldest award and the only
one named after a former player.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in
1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers.
With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential
organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America
team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA
and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Joe Mitch
at 314-795-6821.
Related link:
•
Oscar Robertson Trophy
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