Los Angeles (October 3, 2011)— Creighton University basketball standout Doug McDermott has been named to the 2011-12 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list. The sophomore forward from Ames, Iowa, is the only MVC representative on the initial list.

The list was announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club after a preseason poll of national college basketball media members. It is comprised of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball’s most prestigious honor.

Transfers, freshmen and medical redshirts are not eligible for the Preseason list. The players on the Preseason list are considered strong candidates for the Midseason list and the official voting ballot, both of which are open to freshman and transfer students. The National Ballot consists of approximately 20 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.  The Wooden Award All American Team, consisting of the nation’s top 10 players, will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament.

McDermott is Creighton's first player named to a Wooden Award list since the spring of 2003, when Kyle Korver was one of 22 finalists for the award. Despite earning 2002 MVC Player of the Year accolades as a junior, however, Korver did not earn preseason recognition from the committee prior to his memorable 2002-03 senior season.

Last year as a freshman, McDermott led Creighton in scoring (14.9 ppg.), rebounding (7.2 rpg.) and three-point percentage (.405) while also tying for the team-lead in three-point field goals (47). He swept Missouri Valley Conference Freshman and Newcomer of the Year accolades and became the first freshman since 1951-52 to be named first-team all-MVC. He gained additional praise this summer for his work with the Team USA U19 Team that competed at the FIBA World Championships in Latvia, where he started every game and ranked third on the club in both scoring and rebounding.

The 36th annual Wooden Award ceremony marks the 25^th anniversary of the selection of the Naval Academy’s David Robinson as the Wooden Award winner. The 2012 event 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. It will take place the weekend of April 6-8, 2012.

About the John R. Wooden Award

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 or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA.  Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird (’79), Michael Jordan (’84), Tim Duncan (’97), Candace Parker (’07 and ’08) and Maya Moore of Connecticut (’09 and ‘11). BYU’s Jimmer Fredette won the men’s Award in 2011.

Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed close to a million dollars to universities’ general scholarship fund in the names of the All American recipients. The Award has also sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps in the Award’s name.   Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament.  The day-long tournament, which brings together Special Olympic athletes and the All Americans, takes place at The Los Angeles Athletic Club the weekend of the John R. Wooden Award Ceremony.

Follow the candidates and get the latest news throughout the season by logging on to www.WoodenAward.com or going to the Wooden Award facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/WoodenAward.  For more information on the John R. Wooden Award, please contact the Wooden Award staff at 213-630-5206 or via email at woodenaward@laac.net.

2011-12 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 List, Men

 Players listed alphabetically     *indicates player chosen to the 2011 Wooden All American Team; GS=Graduate Student
Based on a preseason poll. Award winner honored April 6, 2012 at The Los Angeles Athletic Club.