Paul A Finalist For The Naismith Trophy
2/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2005
Wake Forest sophomore guard is one of 30 midseason finalists for the Naismith Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation's top college player. The announcement of the 30 candidates was made today by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Paul leads the ACC in three-point field goal percentage and in assist-turnover ratio and he ranks among the league leaders in five other statistical categories. The Lewisville (NC) native has previously been named a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award and the Bob Cousy Award. He has been named ACC Player of the Week and ABC/ESPN analyst Dick Vitale named Paul his national midseason player of the year.
Paul is one of eight ACC players on the Naismith Trophy list of 30 midseason candidates.
The Top 30 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 criteria on player performances this season. The list was narrowed down from the pre-season list of 50 candidates who were announced at the beginning of the season.
"This basketball season has been among the most exciting and unpredictable in recent years," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. "It's a result of these players rising to the occasion when it's most important and the one player who distinguishes himself above all others will raise the Naismith Trophy in April."
As part of its involvement, Cingular is making this year's selection process unique. For the first time, college basketball fans have a voice in deciding who wins the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless through the power and ease of wireless text messaging.
"The Naismith Trophy symbolizes the best player in the country and all of these candidates are worthy of that honor," said Marc Lefar, Chief Marketing Officer for Cingular. "We are excited that our involvement will enable college basketball fans nationwide to have their say in who will be this year's winner."
Beginning February 12, CBS' "Cingular at the Half" will feature a weekly Naismith Trophy Watch highlighting the players in contention. These players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March when four finalists for the award are announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors.
