Finalists set for freshman of the year award

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected eight standout freshmen as finalists for the Integris Wayman Tisdale Award. Members of the association’s board of directors chose the finalists and the entire 900-member USBWA will vote on the awards as well as the annual All-America and All-District teams.

The recipients are to be announced on Friday, April 5 in Atlanta at a 9:15 a.m. ET press conference and then formally presented their awards at the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards on Mon., April 15 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award will also be presented at the gala to be held annually the Monday following the NCAA Men’s Final Four.

Following are the finalists for the Integris Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award:

2013 INTEGRIS WAYMAN TISDALE AWARD FINALISTS
Pos.	No.	Player, School	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown
F	15	Anthony Bennett, UNLV	6-8	240	Fr.	Brampton, Ont.
G	1	Jahii Carson, Arizona State	5-10	175	Fr.	Mesa, Ariz.
G	14	Gary Harris, Michigan State	6-4	205	Fr.	Fishers, Ind.
G	23	Ben McLemore, Kansas	6-5	195	Fr.	St. Louis, Mo.
G/F	15	Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA	6-6	225	Fr.	Las Vegas, Nev.
F	3	Nerlens Noel, Kentucky	6-10	228	Fr.	Everett, Mass.
G	33	Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State	6-4	225	Fr.	Flower Mound, Texas
G	14	Rasheed Sulaimon, Duke	6-4	185	Fr.	Houston, Texas

The USBWA has chosen a national freshman of the year since the 1988-89 season when LSU’s Chris Jackson was the recipient. Last season, Kentucky’s Anthony Davis became the second winner of the Wayman Tisdale Award. Other notable previous winners of the national freshman of the year award include Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd and Chris Webber.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.