Not surprising, but recognizes the top 50 players going into the season. Here's the release:
Mississippi State's Josh Hubbard was among 50 players chosen to the 2024-25 John R. Wooden Award Top 50 Preseason Watch List announced Thursday by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
The 50 selections, who are considered strong candidates for the 2024-25 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year, were chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts.
State has had a player recognized on the Wooden Award Preseason Watch List during three of the last four seasons which include Iverson Molinar (2021-22) and Tolu Smith III (2023-24) along with Hubbard.
For this year's award, Hubbard is one of 11 SEC players on the Wooden Award Preseason Watch List. He is joined by Johni Broome (Auburn), Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida), Johnell Davis (Arkansas), Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss), Grant Nelson (Alabama), Cliff Omoruyi (Alabama), Jaxson Robinson (Kentucky), Mark Sears (Alabama) Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M) and Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee).
Hubbard, a consensus All-SEC Second-Team honoree, picked up where he left off a season ago and poured in 26 points fueled by six three's against West Georgia (11/04) in the 2024-25 season opener. He has sunk multiple triples in 31 of 36 career games and has hit at least one three-pointer in 14 consecutive games.
Hubbard is coming off one of the nation's most electric seasons by a true freshman last season. He garnered All-SEC Second-Team status, won the SEC's Freshman of the Week honor five times and was the first freshmen to secure the Bailey Howell Trophy which is awarded to the state of Mississippi's top collegiate player.
Hubbard racked up 17.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. His 17.1 points per game are fourth-most among SEC returning players in 2024-25 and were tops among SEC freshmen a season ago. Hubbard amassed nine of his 13 outings of 20-plus points versus SEC opponents, while his 13 performances of 20-plus led the nation among true freshmen.
The 598 points for the Madison, Mississippi native was a State freshman record and ranked 8th for a single season. He drained 108 three-pointers which were both overall and freshmen single season records for the Maroon and White.
Hubbard ranked among the SEC's top 15 in three-pointers made (3.09 – 1st), three-point field goal percentage (35.5 – 5th), free throw percentage (85.3 – 9th) and field goal percentage (35.5 – 15th).
As the 2024-25 college basketball season progresses, the Wooden Award will feature a midseason watch list, late season list and the national ballot.
The national ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Nearly 1,000 voters will rank those players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during Tournament early round games.
The Wooden Award All American Team will be announced the week of the NCAA Tournament's "Elite Eight", before the winner of the 2025 John R. Wooden Award is presented at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in April.
Mississippi State's Josh Hubbard was among 50 players chosen to the 2024-25 John R. Wooden Award Top 50 Preseason Watch List announced Thursday by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
The 50 selections, who are considered strong candidates for the 2024-25 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year, were chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts.
State has had a player recognized on the Wooden Award Preseason Watch List during three of the last four seasons which include Iverson Molinar (2021-22) and Tolu Smith III (2023-24) along with Hubbard.
For this year's award, Hubbard is one of 11 SEC players on the Wooden Award Preseason Watch List. He is joined by Johni Broome (Auburn), Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida), Johnell Davis (Arkansas), Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss), Grant Nelson (Alabama), Cliff Omoruyi (Alabama), Jaxson Robinson (Kentucky), Mark Sears (Alabama) Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M) and Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee).
Hubbard, a consensus All-SEC Second-Team honoree, picked up where he left off a season ago and poured in 26 points fueled by six three's against West Georgia (11/04) in the 2024-25 season opener. He has sunk multiple triples in 31 of 36 career games and has hit at least one three-pointer in 14 consecutive games.
Hubbard is coming off one of the nation's most electric seasons by a true freshman last season. He garnered All-SEC Second-Team status, won the SEC's Freshman of the Week honor five times and was the first freshmen to secure the Bailey Howell Trophy which is awarded to the state of Mississippi's top collegiate player.
Hubbard racked up 17.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. His 17.1 points per game are fourth-most among SEC returning players in 2024-25 and were tops among SEC freshmen a season ago. Hubbard amassed nine of his 13 outings of 20-plus points versus SEC opponents, while his 13 performances of 20-plus led the nation among true freshmen.
The 598 points for the Madison, Mississippi native was a State freshman record and ranked 8th for a single season. He drained 108 three-pointers which were both overall and freshmen single season records for the Maroon and White.
Hubbard ranked among the SEC's top 15 in three-pointers made (3.09 – 1st), three-point field goal percentage (35.5 – 5th), free throw percentage (85.3 – 9th) and field goal percentage (35.5 – 15th).
As the 2024-25 college basketball season progresses, the Wooden Award will feature a midseason watch list, late season list and the national ballot.
The national ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Nearly 1,000 voters will rank those players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during Tournament early round games.
The Wooden Award All American Team will be announced the week of the NCAA Tournament's "Elite Eight", before the winner of the 2025 John R. Wooden Award is presented at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in April.
