The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Taylor, Turner named to Wooden Award Preseason Top 50
11.17.2014 | Men's Basketball
UT one of eight programs to have at least two players represented on the award list.
LOS ANGELES — University of Texas sophomore Isaiah Taylor and freshman Myles Turner have each been chosen to the Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's Preseason Top 25, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Monday. Texas is one of eight programs to be represented by at least two players on the prestigious award's preseason list.
Taylor, who earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and Big 12 All-Newcomer Team honors last year, led the team in assists (4.0 apg) and ranked second in scoring (12.7 ppg) while averaging a team-best 30.1 minutes per contest in 2013-14. He is averaging a team-best 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game while hitting 11-of-19 (.579) field goals, including 4-of-6 three-pointers, and has seven assists against just three turnovers in UT's first two contests this season.
Turner was tabbed the No. 2 overall prospect in the nation by ESPN following his senior year at Euless Trinity High School (Bedford, Texas). In his first two collegiate games, Turner has averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocks while playing 20.0 minutes per contest.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2015 John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's. The Wooden Award National Advisory Board will select 25 players for the midseason list in early January. The leading candidates will be further pared to 20 in early February.
Fifteen top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA will be placed on the ballot and submitted to voters prior to the NCAA Tournament. Voting will take into account play during the opening rounds of the tourney. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament.
The 39th annual Wooden Award ceremony will honor the Men's and Women's Wooden Award winners, and will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All-American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award. The event will take place the weekend of April 10-12, 2015. Texas has had two prior Wooden Award winners: T.J. Ford in 2003 and Kevin Durant in 2007.
For more information on the Wooden Award, log onto: www.WoodenAward.com.
2014-15 John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's Preseason Top 50
Cliff Alexander (Kansas), Brandon Ashley (Arizona), Ron Baker (Wichita State), Ryan Boatright (Connecticut), Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia), Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky), Branden Dawson (Michigan State), Sam Dekker (Wisconsin), Perry Ellis (Kansas), Yogi Ferrell (Indiana), Marcus Foster (Kansas State), Michael Frazier II (Florida), Treveon Graham (VCU), Jerian Grant (Notre Dame), Olivier Hanlan (Boston College), Montrezl Harrell (Louisville), Aaron Harrison (Kentucky), Andrew Harrison (Kentucky), Tyler Haws (BYU), Buddy Hield (Oklahoma), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Arizona), R.J. Hunter (Georgia State), Stanley Johnson (Arizona), Tyus Jones (Duke), Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin), Caris LeVert (Michigan), Jordan Mickey (LSU), Nic Moore (SMU), Georges Niang (Iowa State), Jahlil Okafor (Duke), Kelly Oubre Jr. (Kansas), Marcus Paige (North Carolina), Kevin Pangos (Gonzaga), Terran Petteway (Nebraska), Bobby Portis (Arkansas), Chasson Randle (Stanford), Terry Rozier (Louisville), Wesley Saunders (Harvard), Josh Scott (Colorado), Wayne Selden Jr. (Kansas), D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (Georgetown), Juwan Staten (West Virginia), Keifer Sykes (Green Bay), Isaiah Taylor (TEXAS), Karl-Anthony Towns (Kentucky), Myles Turner (TEXAS), Fred Van Vleet (Wichita State), Dez Wells (Maryland), Delon Wright (Utah), Joseph Young (Oregon).
