LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Senior Forward Cleanthony Early has been named to the Midseason Top-25 for the John R. Wooden Award today, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced today on ESPN's SportsCenter and ESPN.com. ESPNU will follow up at 6pm EST/5pm CST with a half-hour show focusing on the candidates.
Chosen by the Wooden Award Advisory Board, the list is comprised of 25 student-athletes who are the front-runners for the sport's most prestigious individual honor based on their play so far this season.
Early is not just the only Shocker, but is also the only member of the Missouri Valley Conference to make the Midseason Top-25.
Last season, Early helped the Shockers to the 2013 Final Four while becoming a 1st-team All-MVC selection and earning the MVC Newcomer of the Year award. Heading into this season, he was named the MVC Preseason Player of the year for the 2013-14 season and was named to the Associated Press' 2013-14 preseason All-America team as an honorable mention selection.
Early has started every game for the Shockers, helping lead them to a 19-0 record and currently a No. 5 ranking in the nation. He averages 15.3 points per game and grabs 6.6 rebounds per game.
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), Kevin Durant ('09) and Maya Moore of Connecticut ('09 and '11). Michigan's Trey Burke won the 2013 Wooden Award presented by Wendy's.
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.
-WICHITA STATE-
