The United States Basketball Writers Association has announced that it is naming its men's national freshman of the year award after former University of Oklahoma great Wayman Tisdale.
 
The USBWA will present the award at the NCAA Final Four each year in conjunction with a breakfast honoring the association's Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Trophy and Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award.
 
Tisdale was the first freshman to receive All-America honors from the USBWA in 1983 when he averaged 24.5 points and 10.3 rebounds, while shooting 58 percent from the field.
 
He went on to become a three-time All-American at Oklahoma, was a member of the USA Olympic gold medal team in 1984 and played 12 seasons in the NBA where he averaged 15.3 points and 6.1 rebounds.
 
The USBWA has formed a partnership with a group in Oklahoma that will use the award for fund-raising projects to support local charities.  The group will also honor the Tisdale Award winner at the annual Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame gala each May in Oklahoma City.

The Big 12 has had three past recipients of the honor - Michael Beasley (Kansas State) in 2007-08, Kevin Durant in 2006-07 and T.J. Ford (Texas) in 2001-02.

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.