No conference in the nation has more players than the six Big 12 standouts on the U.S. Basketball Writers Association watch list for the Oscar Robertson Trophy. Overall, seven league student-athletes were recognized on the two watch lists that were announced by the organization.
Kansas is tied for the national lead with three players on the Oscar Robertson list – Perry Ellis, Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden, Jr. The Jayhawk trio is joined by Monte Morris and Georges Niang of Iowa State along with Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield.
The awards will be presented at the College Basketball Awards gala in Oklahoma City on April 11, 2016, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Access Sports, a non-profit organization committed to supporting various charitable causes, will serve as host for the gala. Funds from the gala are used to support youth basketball programs in Oklahoma that allow disadvantaged youth the opportunity to participate in leagues and training.
The USBWA, comprised of nearly 1,000 sports journalists covering college basketball for newspapers, magazines and websites, will select the recipients of the awards. With some 1,000 members worldwide, the USBWA is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season.
2015-16 USBWA WATCH LISTS
Oscar Robertson Trophy (Men's National Player of the Year)
Grayson Allen, Duke
Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova
Ron Baker, Wichita State
Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
Kyle Collinsworth, BYU
Kellen Dunham, Butler
Kris Dunn, Providence
Perry Ellis, Kansas
Yogi Ferrell, Indiana
Michael Gbinije, Syracuse
Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame
Damian Jones, Vanderbilt
Skal Labissiere, Kentucky
Caris LeVert, Michigan
Frank Mason III, Kansas
Sheldon McClellan, Miami
Monte Morris, Iowa State
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Georges Niang, Iowa State
Marcus Paige, North Carolina
Gary Payton II, Oregon State
Jakob Poeltl, Utah
Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga
Wayne Selden Jr., Kansas
Ben Simmons, LSU
Melo Trimble, Maryland
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
Denzel Valentine, Michigan State
Fred VanVleet, Wichita State
Tyrone Wallace, California
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
Wayman Tisdale Award (Men's National Freshman Player of the Year)
Dwayne Bacon, Florida State
Malik Beasley, Florida State
Isaiah Briscoe, Kentucky
Jaylen Brown, California
Jalen Brunson, Villanova
Cheick Diallo, Kansas
Tyler Dorsey, Oregon
Henry Ellenson, Marquette
Brandon Ingram, Duke
Skal Labissiere, Kentucky
Tyler Lydon, Syracuse
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Ivan Rabb, California
Malachi Richardson, Syracuse
Ben Simmons, LSU
Caleb Swanigan, Purdue
Allonzo Trier, Arizona
Stephen Zimmerman, UNLV