Press Box - Release

HANSBROUGH, FRESHMEN HEADLINE NAISMITH CANDIDATES

Winner To Be Announced At The Final Four In San Antonio

ATLANTA (Jan. 29, 2008) – Kevin Durant has started a trend. A year after the former University of Texas phenom became the first freshman ever to win the Naismith Trophy, his feat may be repeated in 2008 as six rookies occupy spots on mid-season Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today.

North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough, the lone returnee from last year’s four finalists, is joined by rookies Michael Beasley (Kansas State), Eric Gordon (Indiana), James Harden (Arizona State), Kevin Love (UCLA), O.J. Mayo (USC) and Derrick Rose (Memphis). Love was named the 2007 Naismith National High School Player of the Year.

The Top 30 men’s list was voted on by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its criteria on player performances this season, and the list was narrowed down from the pre-season list of 50 candidates who were announced at the beginning of the season. The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men’s and women’s college basketball players of the year.

“With the influx of talent of the freshmen class it’s not surprising to see so many young players vying for the player of the year award,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. “Overall, this is an extremely balanced group and it will most assuredly go down to the wire in determining a winner for the most prestigious trophy in college basketball.”

Again this year AT&T will give fans an unprecedented voice in selecting the winner. Fan voting, through the power and ease of text messaging, will account for 25 percent of the selection process. This program sets the standard in college athletics for integrating fans into the voting process and providing them with more input than with any other major collegiate sports award.

Beginning Feb. 9, CBS Sports’ “AT&T AT THE HALF” will feature a weekly Naismith Trophy Watch highlighting the men’s players in contention for the coveted award who have distinguished themselves throughout the season. On March 23, CBS will announce the four Naismith Trophy finalists.

Fans will be eligible to cast their vote for the winner until April 5. AT&T is making the voting open to other wireless carriers allowing even more fans to participate. Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate. The Men’s Naismith Trophy winner will be announced April 6 at the 2008 NCAA Final Four in San Antonio.

For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.

The mid-season candidates for the Naismith Men’s Trophy presented by AT&T, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:

2008 Naismith Men’s Mid-Season Candidates

Last	First	Position	Class	School
Abrams	A.J.	Guard	Junior	Texas
Arthur	Darrell	Forward	Sophomore	Kansas
Augustin	D.J.	Guard	Sophomore	Texas
Beasley	Michael	Forward	Freshman	Kansas State
Brockman	Jon	Forward	Junior	Washington
Budinger	Chase	Forward	Sophomore	Arizona
Curry	Stephen	Guard	Sophomore	Davidson
Douglas-Roberts	Chris	Guard	Junior	Memphis
Ellington	Wayne	Guard	Sophomore	North Carolina
Foster	Shan	Guard/Forward	Senior	Vanderbilt
Gordon	Eric	Guard	Freshman	Indiana
Green	Mike	Guard	Senior	Butler
Harden	James	Guard	Freshman	Arizona State
Hansbrough	Tyler	Forward	Junior	North Carolina
Harangody	Luke	Forward	Sophomore	Notre Dame
Hibbert	Roy	Center	Senior	Georgetown
Lawson	Ty	Guard	Sophomore	North Carolina
Love	Kevin	Forward	Freshman	UCLA
Mayo	O.J.	Forward	Freshman	USC
Neitzel	Drew	Guard	Senior	Michigan State
Nelson	DeMarcus	Guard	Senior	Duke
Reynolds	Scottie	Guard	Sophomore	Villanova
Rice	Tyrese	Guard	Junior	Boston College
Roberts	Brian	Guard	Senior	Dayton
Rose	Derrick	Guard	Freshman	Memphis
Shipp	Josh	Guard/Forward	Junior	UCLA
Singletary	Sean	Guard	Senior	Virginia
Weaver	Kyle	Guard	Senior	Washington State
White	D.J.	Forward	Senior	Indiana
Young	Sam	Forward	Junior	Pittsburgh

Last year’s Naismith Trophy recipient, Durant, became the first freshman in the 39-year history of the award to win, edging out seniors Acie Law IV of Texas A&M and Alando Tucker of Wisconsin. Hansbrough, a junior and two-time All America, seeks to become the 16^th Atlantic Coast player and first Tar Heel since Antawn Jamison in 1998 to win the Naismith Trophy.

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 has presented the Naismith Trophy since UCLA’s Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969.

The Naismith Awards program has become an emblem of excellence for the game, recognizing the Men’s and Women’s College Player of the Year, Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and overall contribution to the game.

ABOUT AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at www.att.com.

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