More good pub today for Mr. Withers and the Niners, Withers Named Candidate for Naismith National Player of the Year Trophy. If any of you have Cingular service, VOTE!
Naismith Trophy Presented by Cingular Wireless Names Pre-Season Candidates
Cingular Wireless Adds Fan Voting to College Basketball’s Top Honor
ATLANTA (Nov. 5, 2004) – Fifty of the country’s top collegiate men’s basketball players were named as pre-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men’s and women’s players of the year.
The Top 50 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its pre-season criteria on player performances from last season.
“The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious honor in college basketball,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. “Any of our pre-season candidates are worthy of this honor and we look forward to an exciting year to see who will raise the Naismith in April.”
As part of their involvement, Cingular is making this year’s selection process unique. For the first time, college basketball fans nationwide will have a voice in deciding who wins the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless through the power and ease of wireless text messaging.
“Cingular is proud to continue its support of college athletics and the student athletes who participate and excel,” said Daryl Evans, vice president of advertising and marketing for Cingular Wireless. “The Naismith Trophy is one of the highest honors in all of sports and we are excited to partner with the Atlanta Tipoff Club and college basketball fans nationwide to help recognize the most outstanding player in college basketball.”
In January, the Board of Selectors will narrow its pre-season list to the Top 30 players in the nation. Those players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March. Beginning in mid-February, CBS’ “Cingular at the Half” will feature a weekly Naismith Trophy Watch highlighting the players in contention. The player of the year will be recognized at the NCAA Men’s Final Four in April.
The pre-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:
Hassan Adams 6’4” Jr. Guard Arizona
Sean Banks 6’8” So. Forward Memphis
Brandon Bass 6’8” So. Forward Louisiana State
Andrew Bogut 7’0” So. Forward/Center Utah
Kevin Bookout 6’8” Jr. Forward Oklahoma
Dee Brown 6’0” Jr. Guard Illinois
Taylor Coppenrath 6’9” Sr. Forward Vermont
Paul Davis 6’11” Jr. Center Michigan State
Travis Diener 6’1” Sr. Guard Marquette
Ike Diogu 6’8” Jr. Forward/Center Arizona State
B.J. Elder 6’4” Sr. Guard/Forward Georgia Tech
Daniel Ewing 6’3” Sr. Guard Duke
Raymond Felton 6’0” Jr. Guard North Carolina
Torin Francis 6’11” Jr. Forward/Center Notre Dame
Channing Frye 6’11” Sr. Center Arizona
Francisco Garcia 6’7” Jr. Forward Louisville
John Gilchrist 6’3” Jr. Guard Maryland
Ryan Gomes 6’7” Sr. Forward Providence
Joey Graham 6’7” Sr. Forward Oklahoma State
Justin Gray 6’2” Jr. Guard Wake Forest
Chuck Hayes 6’6” Sr. Forward Kentucky
Julius Hodge 6’6” Sr. Guard North Carolina State
Jarrett Jack 6’3” Jr. Guard Georgia Tech
Carl Krauser 6’2” Jr. Guard Pittsburgh
Keith Langford 6’4” Sr. Forward Kansas
David Lee 6’9” Sr. Forward Florida
John Lucas Jr. 5’11” Sr. Guard Oklahoma State
Sean May 6’9” Jr. Forward/Center North Carolina
Jason Maxiell 6’7” Sr. Forward Cincinnati
Rashad McCants 6’3” Jr. Forward North Carolina
Gerry McNamara 6’2” Jr. Guard Syracuse
Chris Paul 6’0” So. Guard Wake Forest
J.J. Redick 6’4” Jr. Guard Duke
Anthony Roberson 6’2” Jr. Guard Florida
Lawrence Roberts 6’9” Sr. Forward Mississippi State
Nate Robinson 5’9” Jr. Guard Washington
Luke Schenscher 7’1” Sr. Center Georgia Tech
Mustafa Shakur 6’3” So. Guard Arizona
Wayne Simien 6’9” Sr. Forward Kansas
Salim Stoudamire 6’1” Sr. Guard Arizona
Chris Thomas 6’1” Sr. Guard Notre Dame
Ronny Turiaf 6’10” Sr. Forward Gonzaga
Charlie Villanueva 6’11” So. Forward Connecticut
Matt Walsh 6’6” Jr. Guard/Forward Florida
Hakim Warrick 6’9” Sr. Forward Syracuse
Deron Williams 6’3” Jr. Guard Illinois
Shelden Williams 6’9” Jr. Forward Duke
Kennedy Winston 6’6” Jr. Forward Alabama
Curtis Withers 6’8” Jr. Forward Charlotte
Bracey Wright 6’3” Jr. Guard Indiana
Last year’s Naismith Trophy recipient was Saint Joseph’s University guard Jameer Nelson. Other notable men’s college player of the year winners include Bill Walton, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Christian Laettner.