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| Friday, August 2 Updated: August 22, 12:26 PM ET Walton headlines Wooden's preseason 50 ESPN.com news services |
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The Wooden Award's Preseason All-American Team was announced Friday, a list of 50 players who based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball's most coveted trophy. Arizona's Luke Walton is the only member of the 2002 Wooden Award All-American Team on this year's preseason list. Though Walton wasn't named on last year's preseason team, the senior enjoyed a breakthrough year for the Wildcats, averaging 15.7 points as a junior and leading the Pac-10 in assists (6.3 apg). In addition to Walton, several other 2003 preseason candidates are on this year's list, including Troy Bell (Boston College), Matt Bonner (Florida), Nick Collison (Kansas), Jason Gardner (Arizona), Jason Kapono (UCLA) and David West (Xavier). Another member of the preseason list of 50 candidates is Kansas' Kirk Hinrich. The senior-to-be was not on the preseason or midseason candidate list in 2002. But his play during the second half of the year and in postseason tournament play warranted attention and he ended up among 20 student-athletes selected to the 2002 John R. Wooden Award ballot. The preseason list is composed only of returning players -- transfers and freshmen are not eligible, though they are evaluated and considered for the midseason top 30. Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his university that he is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan and last year's recipient, Jason Williams. The 2003 Award ceremony, which will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All-American team and the presentation of the Legends of Coaching Award, will be held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Sunday, April 13, 2003.
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