Wake Forest Athletics
Josh Howard Named To Naismith Preseason List
10/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 21, 2002
Wake Forest senior forward Josh Howard is one of 30 men??s basketball players named to the preseason list of candidates for the 2002-03 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award, Atlanta Tip-Off Club President Jackie Bradford announced today.
Howard, 6-6, is the second-leading returning scorer (13.9 points per game) and third-leading returning rebounder (7.7 rpg.) in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Howard ranked in the top 15 in six different statistical categories in the ACC last year and he ranks among Wake Forest??s all-time leaders in steals, blocked shots, points and rebounds.
??It??s flattering to be considered for such a prestigious award,?? Howard said. ??I??m very excited about the upcoming season. If I can get healthy and contribute the way that I would like, I think we have a chance to surprise a lot of people this season.??
Howard has been plagued by a stress reaction (shin splints) for much of the preseason.
Howard is one of four ACC players on the preseason list, joining Steve Blake (Maryland), Chris Duhon (Duke) and Travis Watson (Virginia).
The Naismith Awards program, now in its 35th year, honors the outstanding college basketball players in the United States. The awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball.
The candidates were selected by a vote of the Board of Selectors comprised of leading basketball coaches, journalists and basketball analysts. Members of the board were asked to name top male and female players who are most likely to be in contention for the award.
"Both the men's and women's fields, from top to bottom, are extremely talented," said Bradford. "The race for the Naismith Award will once again be very competitive and exciting."
The pre-season candidates for the Naismith Awards, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:
Mario Austin, Mississippi State Troy Bell, Boston College
Steve Blake, Maryland
Keith Bogans, Kentucky
Matt Bonner, Florida
Nick Collison, Kansas
Brian Cook, Illinois
Erwin Dudley, Alabama
Chris Duhon, Duke
Andre Emmett, Texas Tech
T.J. Ford, Texas
Reece Gaines, Louisville
Jason Gardner, Arizona
Jarvis Hayes, Georgia
Kirk Hinrich, Kansas
Josh Howard, Wake Forest
Jason Kapono, UCLA
Brandin Knight, Pittsburgh
Chris Marcus, Western Kentucky
Brett Nelson, Florida
Hollis Price, Oklahoma
Darius Rice, Miami - FL
Rick Rickert, Minnesota
Luke Ridnour, Oregon
Mike Sweetney, Georgetown
Chris Thomas, Notre Dame
Dwayne Wade, Marquette
Luke Walton, Arizona
Travis Watson, Virginia
David West, Xavier
