Jan. 25, 2016
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joe Mitch
314-795-6821
Three major awards to be presented in Oklahoma City
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USBWA UNVEILS MIDSEASON WATCH LISTS

ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced midseason watch lists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, the Integris Wayman Tisdale Award and the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award.

The watch lists include candidates for the men’s national player of the year (Oscar Robertson Trophy), men's national freshman player of the year (Wayman Tisdale Award); and women’s national player of the year (Ann Meyers Drysdale Award).

All three awards will be presented at the College Basketball Awards gala in Oklahoma City on April 11, 2016, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Access Sports, a non-profit organization committed to supporting various charitable causes, will serve as host for the gala. Funds from the gala are used to support youth basketball programs in Oklahoma that allow disadvantaged youth the opportunity to participate in leagues and training.

The USBWA, comprised of nearly 1,000 sports journalists covering college basketball for newspapers, magazines and websites, will select the recipients of the awards. This will be the first time the women’s college player of the year will be featured at the gala.

Here are the watch lists:

2015-16 USBWA MEN'S AND WOMEN'S MIDSEASON WATCH LISTS
Oscar Robertson Trophy (Men's National Player of the Year)
Grayson Allen, Duke
Kris Dunn, Providence
Kahlil Felder, Oakland
Yogi Ferrell, Indiana
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame
Brice Johnson, North Carolina
Jalen Jones, Texas A&M
Sheldon McClellan, Miami
Monte Morris, Iowa State
Georges Niang, Iowa State
Gary Payton II, Oregon State
Wayne Selden Jr., Kansas
Ben Simmons, LSU
Melo Trimble, Maryland
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
Jarrod Uthoff, Iowa
Denzel Valentine, Michigan State
Fred VanVleet, Wichita State
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
Wayman Tisdale Award (Men's National Freshman Player of the Year)
KeVaughn Allen, Florida
Dwayne Bacon, Florida State
Malik Beasley, Florida State
Henry Ellenson, Marquette
Brandon Ingram, Duke
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Ivan Rabb, California
Ben Simmons, LSU
Diamond Stone, Maryland
Caleb Swanigan, Purdue
Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Women's National Player of the Year
Jillian Alleyene, Oregon
Rachel Banham, Minnesota
Nina Davis, Baylor
Diamond DeShields,Tennessee
Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut
Niya Johnson, Baylor
Jonquel Jones, George Washington
Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State
Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina
Kelsey Plum, Washington
Azura Stevens, Duke
Breanna Stewart, Connecticut
Morgan Tuck, Connecticut
Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Maryland
A'ja Wilson, South Carolina 

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 1,000 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 its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.

Related links:
Oscar Robertson Trophy
Integris Wayman Tisdale Award
Ann Meyers Drysdale Award