McDermott and Zeller Highlight 2012-2013 Naismith Early Season Watch List
Kentucky, Louisville Lead the Way with Three Players Apiece
ATLANTA (Nov. 13, 2012) – Creighton junior Doug McDermott, who was named a finalist for the award last season, and Indiana sophomore Cody Zeller highlight the 2012-2013 Naismith early season watch list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. McDermott will look to build on a strong sophomore performance, while Zeller enters the season at the helm for the no. 1 preseason-ranked Hoosiers.
The 50-player watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2012-2013 college basketball season. The Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year presented by AT&T will be awarded on April 7, 2013 in Atlanta.
Other notable players include Ohio State junior tandem Aaron Craft and Deshaun Thomas, and Murray State senior Isaiah Canaan. Seven freshmen are on the list, including UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad, who claimed the 2012 Naismith High School Boy’s Player of the Year.
“This is a terrific time of year, filled with hope and optimism among players, coaches and fans,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “We look forward to seeing all the student-athletes display their talents on the court and showcase themselves as viable Naismith Trophy candidates.”
“AT&T is proud to support the tradition of the Naismith Trophy and help recognize these student athletes for their hard work,” said Jamie Kerr, Director, AT&T Corporate Sponsorships. “We wish each candidate the best of luck and every fan a memorable college basketball season.”
In late February, the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors will compile a mid-season team of the top 30 players in the nation. Then in March, the Naismith Trophy voting academy will narrow the list to the four finalists.
Other notable Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year alumni include two three-time winners in Bill Walton and Ralph Sampson, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant and last year’s winner, Anthony Davis of Kentucky. The Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year presented by AT&T is the most prestigious national award presented annually to college basketball’s best player.
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
2012-13 Naismith Trophy Early Season Watch List:
LAST |
FIRST
|
CLASS
|
POSITION
|
SCHOOL
|
|
Anderson
|
Kyle
|
Freshman
|
F
|
UCLA
|
|
Behanan
|
Chane
|
Sophomore
|
F
|
Louisville
|
|
Boynton
|
Kenny
|
Senior
|
G
|
Florida
|
|
Brown
|
Lorenzo
|
Junior
|
G
|
North Carolina State
|
|
Burke
|
Trey
|
Sophomore
|
G
|
Michigan
|
|
Canaan
|
Isaiah
|
Senior
|
G
|
Murray State
|
|
Carter-Williams
|
Michael
|
Sophomore
|
G
|
Syracuse
|
|
Clarke
|
Rotnei
|
Senior
|
G
|
Butler
|
|
Cooley
|
Jack
|
Senior
|
F
|
Notre Dame
|
|
Cooper
|
DJ
|
Senior
|
G
|
Ohio
|
|
Craft
|
Aaron
|
Junior
|
G
|
Ohio State
|
|
Dellavedova
|
Matthew
|
Senior
|
G
|
Saint Mary's
|
|
Dieng
|
Gorgui
|
Junior
|
C
|
Louisville
|
|
Dixon Jr
|
Michael
|
Junior
|
G
|
Missouri
|
|
Franklin
|
Jamaal
|
Junior
|
G
|
San Diego State
|
|
Frazier
|
Tim
|
Senior
|
G
|
Penn State
|
|
Goodwin
|
Archie
|
Freshman
|
G
|
Kentucky
|
|
Harris
|
Elias
|
Senior
|
F
|
Gonzaga
|
|
Jackson
|
Pierre
|
Senior
|
G
|
Baylor
|
|
Kilpatrick
|
Sean
|
Junior
|
G/F
|
Cincinnati
|
|
Leslie
|
CJ
|
Junior
|
F
|
North Carolina State
|
|
Lyons
|
Mark
|
Senior
|
G
|
Arizona
|
|
Mbakwe
|
Trevor
|
Senior
|
F
|
Minnesota
|
|
McAdoo
|
James Michael
|
Sophomore
|
F
|
North Carolina
|
|
McCollum
|
CJ
|
Senior
|
G
|
Lehigh
|
|
McDermott
|
Doug
|
Junior
|
F
|
Creighton
|
|
McGruder
|
Rodney
|
Senior
|
G
|
Kansas State
|
|
McLemore
|
Ben
|
Freshman
|
G
|
Kansas
|
|
Mitchell
|
Tony
|
Sophomore
|
F
|
North Texas
|
|
Moser
|
Mike
|
Junior
|
F
|
UNLV
|
|
Muhammad
|
Shabazz
|
Freshman
|
G/F
|
UCLA
|
|
Noel
|
Nerlens
|
Freshman
|
F
|
Kentucky
|
|
Pangos
|
Kevin
|
Sophomore
|
G
|
Gonzaga
|
|
Plumlee
|
Mason
|
Senior
|
F
|
Duke
|
|
Porter
|
Otto
|
Sophomore
|
F
|
Georgetown
|
|
Poythress
|
Alex
|
Freshman
|
F
|
Kentucky
|
|
Pressey
|
Phil
|
Junior
|
G
|
Missouri
|
|
Roberson
|
Andre
|
Junior
|
F
|
Colorado
|
|
Siva
|
Peyton
|
Senior
|
G
|
Louisville
|
|
Smart
|
Marcus
|
Freshman
|
G
|
Oklahoma State
|
|
Snaer
|
Michael
|
Senior
|
G
|
Florida State
|
|
Stokes
|
Jarnell
|
Sophomore
|
F
|
Tennessee
|
|
Thomas
|
Adonis
|
Sophomore
|
F
|
Memphis
|
|
Thomas
|
Deshaun
|
Junior
|
F
|
Ohio State
|
|
Watford
|
Christian
|
Senior
|
F
|
Indiana
|
|
Withey
|
Jeff
|
Senior
|
C
|
Kansas
|
|
Wolters
|
Nate
|
Senior
|
G
|
South Dakota State
|
|
Young
|
BJ
|
Sophomore
|
G
|
Arkansas
|
|
Young
|
Patric
|
Junior
|
C
|
Florida
|
|
Zeller
|
Cody
|
Sophomore
|
F
|
Indiana
|
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, an Atlanta Sports Council property, is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club, founded during the 1956-57 season, has presented the Naismith Trophy every year since UCLA’s Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. Old Dominion’s Anne Donovan won the inaugural Women’s Naismith Trophy in 1983.
The Naismith Award has become the most prestigious award in all of college basketball, recognizing the Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year, Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and contribution to the game.
