Young on Wooden Award Preseason List

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Sophomore guard BJ Young of the University of Arkansas basketball team was placed on the John R. Wooden Award preseason top 50 list it was announce by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.  The Wooden Award is one of college basketball’s most prestigious honors and is awarded annually to the nation’s best player who is also making progress toward their degree.

Young was placed on the list by a preseason poll of national college basketball media representatives who looked at 2011-12 performances of players across the country.  Young averaged 15.3 points per game as a true freshman which led all SEC first-year players.  He shot better than 50 percent from the floor in 25.2 minutes per game and hit more than 40 percent of his three-point attempts.

Along with his appointment to the Wooden Award preseason list, Young has also been named a third-team preseason All-American by Sporting News, first-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches, media, Lindy’s Preseason magazine and College Hoops Madness; the No. 1 player in the SEC by Sports Illustrated and the No. 28 player in college basketball by CBS among other accolades.

Of the 50 players named to the Wooden Award preseason list, Young is one of six SEC players to make the cut.  The Big 10 led the way with nine selections followed by the Big East with seven.

Young is the first Razorback to be considered for the Wooden Award since former Razorback Ronnie Brewer Jr. was considered during the 2005-06 season.