Nicholson Named to Wooden Award Watch List

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ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure senior forward Andrew Nicholson is one of 50 players named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 List, as announced Monday by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

The list 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 individual honor.

The 6-foot-9 250-pound Mississauga, Ont. native led the Atlantic 10 and ranked 15th nationally in scoring last season at 20.8 points per game. He scored in double figures in all but one contest and racked 11 double-doubles while leading the Bonnies to their first winning record (16-15) and postseason appearance (CBI) since 2001-02.

Nicholson is joined on the list by conference-rival Tu Holloway of Xavier. Two previous Atlantic 10 players, Massachusetts' Marcus Camby (1996) and Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson (2004) have previously won the Wooden Award. La Salle's Lionel Simmons also won the award, albeit prior to the Explorers joining the Atlantic 10.

These players and others who excel throughout the season will be evaluated and considered for the Midseason list and the official voting ballot released in March. The National Ballot consists of approximately 20 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 will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round during the NCAA Tournament.

Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award 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), Blake Griffin (`09) and Maya Moore of Connecticut (`09). BYU guard  Jimmer Fredette earned the award last season.

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.