John R. Wooden Award

The John R. Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The program consists of the men's and women's Player of the Year awards, the Legends of Coaching award and recognizes the All–America Teams.

John R. Wooden Award
Coach John R. Wooden
Given for	the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players
Country	United States
Presented by	Los Angeles Athletic Club
History
First award	1977
Most recent	Obi Toppin, Dayton (men's) Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (women's)
Website	Official site

The awards, given by the Los Angeles Athletic Club, are named in honor of John Wooden, the 1932 national collegiate basketball player of the year from Purdue. Wooden later taught and coached men's basketball at Indiana State and UCLA. Coach Wooden, whose teams at UCLA won ten NCAA championships, was the first man to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and coach. His 1948 Indiana State team was the NAIB (now NAIA) National Finalist.

The award, which was originally given only to male athletes, was first given in 1977. Starting in 2004, the award was extended to women's basketball. Additionally, the Legends of Coaching Award was presented first in 1999. The 2015 presentation was broadcast on ESPN2 and the show was presented by Wendy's at Los Angeles' Club Nokia on Friday, April 10, 2015.

Selection process

Men's award

Each year, the Award's National Advisory Board, a 26-member panel, selects approximately 20 candidates for Player of the Year and All-American Team honors. The candidates must be full-time students and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher throughout their college career. Players who are nominated must have made outstanding contributions to team play, both offensively and defensively, and be model citizens, exhibiting strength of character both on and off the court.

The selection ballot is announced prior to the NCAA basketball tournament. The voters consist of 1,000 sportswriters and sportscasters representing the 50 states.

The top ten vote-getters are selected to the All-American Team, and the results are announced following the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The person who receives the most votes is named the Player of the Year, and the winner is announced following the NCAA championship game.

The Player of the Year is awarded a trophy consisting of five bronze figures. The player's school receives a duplicate trophy, as well as a scholarship grant. The other top four members of the All-American Team receive an All-American Team trophy, a jacket, and a scholarship grant which goes to their school. Each coach of the top five All-American Team members also receives a jacket. The All-American Team members ranked six through ten receive an All-American Team trophy and a jacket, but their schools do not receive a scholarship.

Women's award

The criteria for the women's Player of the Year award and All-American Team honors are similar to those for the men. For the women's award, the National Advisory Board consists of 12 members, and approximately 15 candidates are selected for the ballot. The voters are 250 sportswriters and sportscasters.

In contrast to the men's All-American Team, only five members are selected for the women's team. The Player of the Year receives a trophy, and her school receives a duplicate trophy and a scholarship grant.

The trophy

The trophy features five bronze figures, each depicting one of the five major skills that Wooden believed that "total" basketball player must exhibit: rebounding, passing, shooting, dribbling, and defense.

The concept for the trophy originated with Wooden Award Chairman, Richard "Duke" Llewellyn. Work began on the trophy in 1975, and sculptor Don Winton, who had sculpted many top sports awards, was given the task of designing the model of the trophy.

The figures are bronze plated and attached to a pentagonal base plate. The tallest figure is 10¼ inches high (26 cm). The trophy's base is 7½ inches high (19 cm), and is made from solid walnut. The total height of the trophy is 17 ³⁄₄ inches (45 cm), and it weighs 25 lb (11 kg).

Wooden Award winners

Men Season Player School Position Class 1976–77 Marques Johnson UCLA F Senior 1977–78 Phil Ford North Carolina PG Senior 1978–79 Larry Bird Indiana State SF Senior 1979–80 Darrell Griffith Louisville SG Senior 1980–81 Danny Ainge BYU SG Senior 1981–82 Ralph Sampson[1] Virginia C Junior 1982–83 Ralph Sampson (2)[1] Virginia (2) C Senior 1983–84 Michael Jordan North Carolina (2) SG Junior 1984–85 Chris Mullin St. John's SF / SG Senior 1985–86 Walter Berry St. John's (2) PF Senior 1986–87 David Robinson Navy C Senior 1987–88 Danny Manning Kansas PF Senior 1988–89 Sean Elliott Arizona SF Senior 1989–90 Lionel Simmons La Salle SF Senior 1990–91 Larry Johnson[2] UNLV PF Senior 1991–92 Christian Laettner[3] Duke F Senior 1992–93 Calbert Cheaney[4] Indiana SF Senior 1993–94 Glenn Robinson[5] Purdue SF / PF Sophomore 1994–95 Ed O'Bannon[6] UCLA (2) SF Senior 1995–96 Marcus Camby[7] UMass C Junior 1996–97 Tim Duncan [8] Wake Forest C Senior 1997–98 Antawn Jamison[9] North Carolina (3) PF Junior 1998–99 Elton Brand[10] Duke (2) C Sophomore 1999–00 Kenyon Martin[11] Cincinnati PF Senior 2000–01 Shane Battier[12] Duke (3) SF / PF Senior 2001–02 Jason Williams[13] Duke (4) PG Junior 2002–03 T. J. Ford[14] Texas PG Sophomore 2003–04 Jameer Nelson[15] Saint Joseph's PG Senior 2004–05 Andrew Bogut Utah C Sophomore 2005–06 J. J. Redick[16] Duke (5) SG Senior 2006–07 Kevin Durant[17] Texas (2) SF Freshman 2007–08 Tyler Hansbrough[18] North Carolina (4) PF Junior 2008–09 Blake Griffin[19] Oklahoma PF Sophomore 2009–10 Evan Turner[20] Ohio State SF Junior 2010–11 Jimmer Fredette[21] BYU (2) PG Senior 2011–12 Anthony Davis[22] Kentucky C Freshman 2012–13 Trey Burke[23] Michigan PG Sophomore 2013–14 Doug McDermott[24] Creighton SF / PF Senior 2014–15 Frank Kaminsky[25] Wisconsin PF Senior 2015–16 Buddy Hield[26] Oklahoma (2) SG Senior 2016–17 Frank Mason III[27] Kansas (2) PG Senior 2017–18 Jalen Brunson Villanova PG Junior 2018–19 Zion Williamson[28] Duke (6) SF / PF Freshman 2019–20 Obi Toppin Dayton PF Sophomore Women Season Player School Position Class 2003–04 Alana Beard[29] Duke G Senior 2004–05 Seimone Augustus[1] LSU G Junior 2005–06 Seimone Augustus (2)[1] LSU G Senior 2006–07 Candace Parker[17] Tennessee C Junior 2007–08 Candace Parker (2)[18] Tennessee C Senior 2008–09 Maya Moore[19] Connecticut F Sophomore 2009–10 Tina Charles[20] Connecticut C Senior 2010–11 Maya Moore (2)[21] Connecticut F Senior 2011–12 Brittney Griner[22] Baylor C Junior 2012–13 Brittney Griner (2)[23] Baylor C Senior 2013–14 Chiney Ogwumike[24] Stanford F Senior 2014–15 Breanna Stewart[25] Connecticut F Junior 2015–16 Breanna Stewart (2)[26] Connecticut F Senior 2016–17 Kelsey Plum[27] Washington PG Senior 2017–18 A'ja Wilson South Carolina F Senior 2018–19 Sabrina Ionescu[28] Oregon G Junior 2019–20 Sabrina Ionescu (2) Oregon G Senior

Trademark dispute

The Wooden family announced in August 2005 that he would no longer participate because of a trademark dispute concerning the use of his name.[30][31] However, he never contested the use of his name prior to his death in 2010, and the award continues to bear his name. “I don’t want anything to interfere with the continuation of the award,” (Wooden) told The Associated Press at the time.[32] In 2011 the Wooden Family began participation. Coach John Wooden's son, Jim, presented the Wooden Award to Brigham Young senior Jimmer Fredette.[33] In 2012 John Wooden's grandson, Greg, on behalf of The Los Angeles Athletic Club, presented the Wooden Award to University of Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis. Greg Wooden made the announcement on ESPN College GameDay.[34]

High School Player of the Year Award

The John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year awards are given to the most valuable player in each of the five divisions of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section, and one Los Angeles City division.

Legends of Coaching Award

The Legends of Coaching Award recognizes the lifetime achievement of coaches who exemplify Coach Wooden's high standards of coaching success and personal achievement. When selecting the individual, the Wooden Award Committee considers a coach's character, success rate on the court, graduating rate of student athletes, his or her coaching philosophy, and identification with the goals of the John R. Wooden Award.

All listed honorees coached in the men's game unless otherwise noted.

Dean Smith's Legends of Coaching Award.

Pat Summitt was the first female coach selected.

Mike Montgomery won the award while still at Stanford.

Jim Calhoun of Connecticut received the award in 2005.

Season	Coach	School
1998–99	Dean Smith[35]	North Carolina
1999–00	Mike Krzyzewski[36]	Duke
2000–01	Lute Olson[37]	Arizona
2001–02	Denny Crum[38]	Louisville
2002–03	Roy Williams[39]	Kansas
2003–04	Mike Montgomery[29]	Stanford
2004–05	Jim Calhoun[40]	Connecticut
2005–06	Jim Boeheim[41]	Syracuse
2006–07	Gene Keady[42]	Purdue
2007–08	Pat Summitt[43]	Tennessee (women)
2008–09	Rick Barnes[44]	Texas
2009–10	Billy Donovan[45]	Florida
2010–11	Tom Izzo[46]	Michigan State
2011–12	Geno Auriemma[47]	Connecticut (women)
2012–13	Bill Self[48]	Kansas
2013–14	Tara VanDerveer [49]	Stanford (women)
2014–15	Steve Fisher[50]	San Diego State
2015–16	Tubby Smith[51]	Texas Tech
2016–17	Muffet McGraw[52]	Notre Dame (women)
2017–18	Jay Wright[53]	Villanova
2018–19	Lon Kruger[54]	Oklahoma
2019–20	C. Vivian Stringer[55]	Rutgers (women)

See also

• List of U.S. men's college basketball national player of the year awards
• John R. Wooden Classic

References

1. "Redick, Augustus to Receive Top Honors". Florida Today. Cocoa Florida. Associated Press. April 9, 2006. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
2. Nadel, John (April 4, 1991). "UNLV's Larry Johnson Wins Wooden Award". Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. Associated Press. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Laettner Caps Awards Sweep With Wooden". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. April 9, 1992. p. 58 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Indiana's Cheaney Wins Wooden Award". Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. Associated Press. April 8, 1993. p. 52 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Glenn Robinson wins Wooden Award". The Index-Journal. Greenwood, South Carolina. Associated Press. April 10, 1994. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Ed O'Bannon Wins Wooden Award". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. April 8, 1995. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Camby Wins Wooden Award". Rocky Mount Telegram. Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Associated Press. April 5, 1996. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Tim Duncan Wins Wooden Award". The Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. April 5, 1997. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Antawn Jamison wins Wooden Award". Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. April 4, 1998. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Elton Brand wins Wooden Award". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. April 3, 1999. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin wins Wooden Award". The Newark Advocate. Newark, Ohio. April 8, 2000. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Shane Battier Wins Wooden Award". The Tribune. Coschocton, Ohio. Associated Press. April 7, 2001. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
13. Norwood, Robyn (April 8, 2002). "Wooden Award Goes to Williams". The Los Angeles Times. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Texas' T.J. Ford wins Wooden Award". Southern Illinoisan. Carbondale, Illinois. Associated Press. April 13, 2003. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
15. Harris, Beth (April 11, 2004). "Saint Joseph's Nelson wins Wooden Award". Longview News Journal. Longview, Texas. Associated Press. p. 29.
16. Nadel, John (April 9, 2006). "Duke's Redick completes sweep with Wooden Award". The Odessa American. Associated Press. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Basketball". Tampa Bay Times. st. Petersburg, Florida. April 8, 2007. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
18. Pucin, Diane (April 12, 2008). "Hanbrough, Parker win Wooden Awards". The Los Angeles Times. p. 49 – via Newspapers.com.
19. Altavilla, John (April 11, 2009). "Moore Adds Wooden to Haul". Hartford Courant. p. B03 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Ohio State's Turner, UConn's Charles win Wooden Awards". Lansing State Journal. April 10, 2010. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
21. Altavilla, John (April 9, 2011). "Maya Moore Wins Second Wooden Award". Hartford Courant. p. C01 – via Newspapers.com.
22. Harris, Beth (April 7, 2012). "Davis, Griner grab Wooden Award in L.A." The Desert Sun. Palm Springs, California. Associated Press. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "Griner, Burke to get Wooden Awards". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. April 13, 2013. p. C2 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Creighton's McDermott Honored". The Greenwood Commonwealth. Greenwood, Mississippi. Associated Press. April 13, 2014. p. B006.
25. Harris, Beth (April 12, 2015). "Kaminsky, Stewart take Wooden honors". The Courier-Journal. p. C12 – via Newspapers.com.
26. Altavilla, John (April 9, 2016). "Stewart Wins Her Second Wooden Award". Hartford Courant. p. C7 – via Newspapers.com.
27. Harris, Beth (April 8, 2017). "Mason, Plum win Wooden Awards". Reno Gazette-Journal. Associated Press. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Winners Named for John R. Wooden Award During College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy's on ESPN2" (Press release). Los Angeles Athletic Club. April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
29. Norwood, Robyn (April 11, 2004). "The Best is Definitely Last for Busy Nelson". The Los Angeles Times. p. 56 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "Hansbrough wins Wooden Award". Sports.espn.go.com. Associated Press. April 12, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
31. "Wooden withdraws support for Wooden Award". Sports.espn.go.com. Associated Press. August 31, 2005. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
32. "Wooden withdraws support for Wooden Award – Club unhappy coach allowed his name on another award". Nbcsports.msnbc.com. August 27, 2005. Archived from the original on March 18, 2009. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
33. "BYU'S JIMMER FREDETTE WINS 35th ANNUAL JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD".
34. "36th John R. Wooden Award Presented To Anthony Davis Of Kentucky".
35. "Krzyzewski to get high award". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. December 17, 1999. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Krzyzewski to Receive Wooden Award". St. Cloud Times. Saint Cloud, Minnesota. December 17, 1999. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
37. "Wake Forest Upsets Kansas; Tennessee Survives SMU". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. Associated Press. December 8, 2000. p. 314 – via Newspapers.com.
38. "Coaching Legend Crum to Receive Wooden Award". Honolulu Star Bulletin. October 5, 2001. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
39. "Roy Williams to get Wooden Award". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. October 11, 2002. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
40. "Wooden Award Finalists Named". Hartford Courant. March 30, 2005. p. C05 – via Newspapers.com.
41. Watkins, Eric (October 10, 2017). "Jay Wright Earns 2018 Wooden Award Legends of Coaching Honor". 247 Sports. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
42. Bolch, Ben; Pucin, Diane (October 13, 2006). "USC Freshman Vie for Point Guard Job". The Los Angeles Times. p. 49. Retrieved March 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
43. "Major Career Achievements". Nashville Post. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
44. Rosner, Mark (October 15, 2009). "Ward shows great improvement, is 'shooting the ball with confidence'". Austin American-Statesman. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
45. "Florida's Donovan Wins Wooden Award". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. April 9, 2010. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
46. "A legendary night in LA". Lansing State Journal. Lansing. April 10, 2011. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
47. "Auriemma to receive Wooden award". CTPost. October 12, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
48. "Bill Self to receive the Wooden's Awards 'Legends of Coaching' honor in 2013". KU Sports. October 10, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
49. Pucin, Diane (November 12, 2013). "Two UCLA players make preseason Wooden Award list". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
50. Ibarra, Kristian (October 3, 2014). "Fisher nets Legends coaching award". The Daily Aztec. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
51. "Texas Tech's Tubby Smith Named 2016 John R. Wooden Award "Legends of Coaching" Recipient". Texas Tech. October 13, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
52. "Muffet McGraw Named 2017 Wooden Legends of Coaching Award Recipient" (Press release). Atlantic Coast Conference. October 12, 2016. Archived from the original on April 9, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
53. "Jay Wright of Villanova Named 2018 John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Recipient" (Press release). Los Angeles Athletic Club. October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
54. "Lon Kruger of Oklahoma Named 2019 John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Recipient" (Press release). Los Angeles Athletic Club. October 9, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
55. "C. Vivian Stringer of Rutgers Named 2020 John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Recipient" (Press release). Los Angeles Athletic Club. October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.

External links

• Official website