Ray McCallum Named to Preseason Wooden Top 50 List
LOS ANGELES -- Detroit sophomore guard Ray McCallum earned a place on the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced today. Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball media members, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball’s most prestigious honor.
For the third time in five years and second straight year, the Horizon League is represented on the list; McCallum joins Butler's Shelvin Mack (2010) and A.J. Graves (2007), each of whom earned preseason recognition.
In his freshman campaign, McCallum earned Horizon League Newcomer of the Year honors, leading Detroit with 13.5 points per game and contributing 4.9 assists per contest. This summer, McCallum spent time at both the Deron Williams and LeBron James Skills Academies before competing with USA Basketball at the World University Games. The 6-foot-1 guard was the youngest member of the team, which finished with a 7-1 record in China.
Transfers, freshmen and medical redshirts are not eligible for the Preseason list. The players on the Preseason list are considered strong candidates for the Midseason list and the official voting ballot, both of which are open to freshman and transfer students.The National Ballot consists of approximately 20 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA. The Wooden Award All American Team, consisting of the nation’s top 10 players, will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament.
The 36th annual Wooden Award ceremony marks the 25th anniversary of the selection of the Naval Academy’s David Robinson as the Wooden Award winner. The 2012 event will honor the Men's and Women's Wooden Award winners, and will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award. It will take place the weekend of April 6-8, 2012.
For the complete list of nominees, click here.
