UPDATE: The men’s Wooden Award midseason top 25 watchlist has just been released, spotlighting a powerhouse lineup of nine freshmen, led by Duke’s Cameron Boozer and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. This announcement, made earlier today, is generating buzz in the college basketball community.
Cameron Boozer is currently dominating the scoring charts, averaging an impressive 23.3 points per game, while Dybantsa is hot on his heels with 23.1 points per game. Boozer’s consistency is remarkable — he has scored at least 14 points in every game this season and has recorded seven double-doubles, propelling Duke to a stellar 14-1 record. The 6-foot-9 forward is also contributing significantly with an average of 9.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Meanwhile, AJ Dybantsa has been making waves with one of the most remarkable performances by a freshman in recent memory. In December, he boasted an astonishing average of 27.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.3 steals, shooting nearly 66% from the field. This performance not only highlights his skills but also raises expectations for his potential at BYU.
North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson is also making headlines, averaging 19.3 points and 10.9 rebounds with ten double-doubles in his first 15 games, positioning him as a strong contender in this competitive field.
In addition to these standout freshmen, the list includes players facing injury challenges. Kansas’ Darryn Peterson has only appeared in six games this season due to a hamstring injury, but he recently scored 32 points in just 32 minutes against TCU, showcasing his potential. Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. is sidelined with a lower-back injury, having missed five consecutive games.
The midseason watchlist also features several seasoned players poised for a strong second half of the season. Braden Smith of Purdue, an All-American last season, leads the nation in assists with an average of 9.6 as he aims to break the all-time Division I career assists record of 1,076 held by Bobby Hurley.
As the season progresses, players not included in today’s watchlist still have the opportunity to be considered for the late-season list and the final ballot determining the winner of the prestigious Wooden Award.
Wooden Award Midseason Top 25:
– Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
– Nate Ament, Tennessee
– Cameron Boozer, Duke
– Jaden Bradley, Arizona
– Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
– Tucker DeVries, Indiana
– AJ Dybantsa, BYU
– Kingston Flemings, Houston
– P.J. Haggerty, Kansas State
– Thomas Haugh, Florida
– Graham Ike, Gonzaga
– Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
– Alex Karaban, UConn
– Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
– Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
– Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
– Koa Peat, Arizona
– Darryn Peterson, Kansas
– Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
– Emanuel Sharp, Houston
– Braden Smith, Purdue
– Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
– Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
– JT Toppin, Texas Tech
– Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
As fans and analysts eagerly await the next updates, the excitement around these rising stars is palpable, solidifying their places in the narrative of this college basketball season. For continuous updates and insights, stay tuned as the race for the Wooden Award intensifies!
