The preseason watch list for the John R. Wooden Award was announced today. The Wooden Award is awarded each year to the top college basketball player in the country. This years preseason poll consists of 50 names including Oklahoma Sooners freshman Trae Young. Young was a McDonald’s All-American at Norman North High School before choosing to enroll at Oklahoma over the likes of Kansas, Kentucky and Duke.
Young’s dazzling performance in Sunday’s season opener against the Nebraska Omaha Mavericks certainly justified his standing on this list. He tallied 15 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds to lead OU to a 108-89 win. Young and the rest of the team will have their first chance to shine on a national stage against top competition next week at the inaugural Phil Knight Invitational in Portland.
Holy Wow. Trae Young with a beautiful oop to Brady Manek. #Soomers pic.twitter.com/K48iHRrSH7
— OUHoops (@ouhoops) November 12, 2017
Young has a chance to bring the Wooden Award to Norman for the second time in three years after Buddy Hield won it in 2016.