Top 25 Mid-Season Wooden Award ShortList Revealed
By Jacob Rude
The shortlist for the Wooden Award has been released featuring the 25 finalists, cut down from 50 on the pre-season list.
The list is full of the usual suspects, including Jahlil Okafor, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Stanley Johnson. One notable exception is that of Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky’s big freshman in the middle. Also being removed from the pre-season list is fellow freshman center Myles Turner of Texas.
Here is a full list of those featured for the award:
Justin Anderson, G, Virginia
Ron Baker, G, Wichita State
Ryan Boatright, G, UCONN
Willie Cauley-Stein, F, Kentucky
Yogi Ferrell, G, Indiana
Jerian Grant, G, Notre Dame
Montrezl Harrell, F, Louisville
D’Angelo Harrison, G, St. John’s
Tyler Haws, G, BYU
Buddy Hield, G, Oklahoma
Stanley Johnson, F, Arizona
Tyus Jones, G, Duke
Frank Kaminsky, F, Wisconsin
Jordan Mickey, F, LSU
Georges Niang, F, Iowa State
Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
Kevin Pangos, G, Gonzaga
Bobby Portis, F, Arkansas
Chasson Randle, G, Stanford
Terry Rozier, G, Louisville
D’Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State
Juwan Staten, G, West Virginia
Melo Trimble, G, Maryland
Kyle Wiltjer, F, Gonzaga
Delon Wright, G, Utah
The Big Ten comes in with four names on the list while the ACC tops the list with seven candidates. The Big 12, which has been especially competitive this year, finds only three names on the list.
A handful of freshman aside from Okafor and Johnson also are featured on the list, including Russell and Trimble from Ohio State and Maryland, respectively. The duo have been lighting up the Big Ten this year and both are worthy inclusions as finalists.
After placing four players on the pre-season list, Kansas finds no one on the mid-season finalist list, a a sign of their early season struggles. Similarly, Kentucky found themselves with four on the pre-season list as well but now are down to just one inclusion, however certainly under different circumstances.
Who is your pick for the Wooden Award on the halfway mark this year?