Wake Forest Athletics
Josh Howard To Appear On Wooden Award Ballot
3/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 10, 2003
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Wake Forest senior Josh Howard will be one of 22 student-athletes listed on the official ballot for the 2003 Wooden Award All-American Team and Player of the Year, as announced by the Award Committee on Monday. The 27th Annual Wooden Award Ceremony will be televised live from The Los Angeles Athletic Club on Saturday, April 12.
Howard, considered one of the nation??s most versatile and athletic players, leads the ACC in scoring with 20.1 points per game. He is the only player in Division I who averages at least 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one blocked shot per game. He is joined by Maryland??s Steve Blake and Duke??s Chris Duhon as the ACC representatives on the Wooden ballot.
A panel of over 1,000 voters comprised of sports media members and college basketball experts from around the nation will have until noon pacific time on Monday, March 31 to cast their votes for the 10-member All-American Team and Wooden Award honor as the most outstanding collegiate basketball player in the United States. While other player of the year awards are voted upon prior to postseason play, the Wooden Award opts for the later March 31 deadline because it allows voters to evaluate players up until the Final Four has been determined.
Each of the 22 players has met the criteria to be considered on the official ballot. In addition to focusing on the important teachings of the Award??s namesake, such as team play and strength of character, the criteria includes a prerequisite exclusive to the Wooden Award: scholastic achievement. Each athlete must be making progress toward graduation and must be accredited by his school as maintaining a cumulative 2.00 grade point average.
The All-American Team will be announced on April 1, and the top five candidates will be invited to attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles. These finalists will receive a contribution from the John R. Wooden Award Scholarship Fund in their name to their university??s general scholarship fund.
2003 John R. Wooden Award National Ballot
(players are listed alphabetically)
Mario Austin, Mississippi State
Troy Bell, Boston College
Steve Blake, Maryland
Matt Bonner, Florida
Nick Collison, Kansas
Brian Cook, Illinois
Chris Duhon, Duke
T.J. Ford, Texas
Reece Gaines, Louisville
Jason Gardner, Arizona
Kirk Hinrich, Kansas
Josh Howard, Wake Forest
Brandin Knight, Pittsburgh
Kyle Korver, Creighton
Emeka Okafor, Connecticut
Hollis Price, Oklahoma
Ron Slay, Tennessee
Mike Sweetney, Georgetown
Chris Thomas, Notre Dame
Dwyane Wade, Marquette
Luke Walton, Arizona
David West, Xavier
