Ayrton Oneill
The John R. Wooden Award, named after the 1932 national collegiate basketball player of the year from Purdue, is considered the most prestigious Player of the Year award in college basketball. The award was established in 1976 and first presented in 1977 to honour the best men's player in the nation. In 2004, the award was expanded to include a women's player of the year award, as well as the Legends of Coaching Award, which is given to both men's and women's coaches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Award | John R. Wooden Award |
| Year Established | 1976 |
| Who does it apply to? | Men's and Women's coaches and players |
| Who selects the winners? | National Advisory Board, a 26-member panel |
| Number of men's and women's candidates selected | 15 men and 15 women |
| Number of women's All-America Team members | 5 |
| Trophy | Five-figure bronze trophy with five figurines |
| Height of trophy | 17 3/4 inches (45 cm) |
| Weight of trophy | 25 lbs (11 kg) |
| Recent winner | USC's JuJu Watkins (2025) |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Women's Wooden Award Trophy design
The John R. Wooden Award is an annual award recognising the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The award was first introduced for men's basketball in 1977 and expanded to include women's basketball in 2004. The award is bestowed by the Los Angeles Athletic Club and is named after John Wooden, the 1932 national collegiate basketball player of the year from Purdue.
The winner of the women's Wooden Award receives a trophy, and her school is presented with a duplicate trophy and a scholarship grant. The trophy was designed by sculptor Don Winton and features five bronze figures attached to a pentagonal walnut base plate. Each figure depicts one of the five major skills that Wooden believed a "total" basketball player must possess: rebounding, passing, shooting, dribbling, and defence. The tallest figure stands at 101/4 inches (26 cm), while the total height of the trophy is 173/4 inches (45 cm), and it weighs 25 lbs (11 kg).
The Wooden Award is not only limited to players but also recognises coaches through the Legends of Coaching Award, which was first presented in 1999. This award celebrates the lifetime achievements of coaches who embody the high standards and success set by Coach Wooden.
The Wooden Award programme also includes the recognition of All-America teams, with 15 women's candidates selected for the player of the year award and only five members chosen for the women's All-American Team. The selection process involves a National Advisory Board and voting by sportswriters and sportscasters.
Drake and Will Ferrell's Basketball Skit: A Hilarious Duo
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Wooden Award winners
The John R. Wooden Award is an annual award given to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The award was first introduced in 1977 for men's basketball and was expanded to include women's basketball in 2004. The award is named after John Wooden, the 1932 national collegiate basketball player of the year from Purdue, who later went on to coach men's basketball at Indiana State and UCLA, winning 10 NCAA Division I championships.
The Wooden Award program consists of the men's and women's player of the year awards, the Legends of Coaching Award, and recognition of All-America teams. The Legends of Coaching Award was first presented in 1999 and is given to coaches who have never been head coaches in NCAA Division I. The award recognizes the lifetime achievement of coaches who exemplify Wooden's high standards of coaching success and character.
The Wooden Award selection process involves a 26-member National Advisory Board that selects 15 men's and 15 women's candidates for player of the year and All-American Team honors. The women's award has a National Advisory Board consisting of 12 members, and approximately 15 candidates are selected for the ballot. The voters for the women's award include 250 sportswriters and sportscasters. The winners of the player of the year award receive a trophy featuring five bronze figures, each depicting one of the five major skills that Wooden believed a "total" basketball player must exhibit: rebounding, passing, shooting, dribbling, and defense. The school of the player of the year also receives a duplicate trophy and a scholarship grant.
The 2025 Wooden Award winners were Duke's Cooper Flagg for the men's award and USC's JuJu Watkins for the women's award.
Basketball Wives Reunion: Air Date and What to Expect
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Wooden Award selection process
The John R. Wooden Award is an annual award recognising the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players in the United States. The award was founded in 1976 and is named after John Wooden, the 1932 national collegiate basketball player of the year from Purdue.
The Wooden Award selection process involves the following steps:
Certification of Players:
The Wooden Award office certifies players based on their academic performance, requiring a minimum GPA of 2.00 for eligibility.
Candidate Selection:
The National Advisory Board, consisting of 12 members for the women's award, selects 15 men's and 15 women's candidates for the Player of the Year award and All-American Team honours.
Voting Process:
Official ballots are sent to nearly 1,300 voters, including sportswriters and sportscasters. The voters consider the players' performance on and off the court, academic excellence, and character.
Results Compilation:
The votes are compiled by Deloitte LLP, and the top 10 vote-getters are selected for the All-American Team. The results are announced following the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament.
Player of the Year Announcement:
The player with the most votes is named the National Player of the Year. The winner is announced after the NCAA championship game and receives a trophy. Their school also receives a duplicate trophy and a scholarship grant.
All-American Team Recognition:
The top five members of the All-American Team receive trophies and jackets, and their schools are awarded scholarship grants. Coaches of these top five members also receive jackets. Team members ranked six through ten receive trophies and jackets, but their schools do not get scholarship grants.
The Wooden Award selection process aims to recognise not only basketball skills but also leadership, character, and academic integrity, reflecting Coach Wooden's holistic approach to success.
Edwards and Hampton: Basketball Rivals
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Wooden Award All-America Team
The Wooden Award program recognises the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The program consists of the men's and women's player of the year awards, the Legends of Coaching Award, and the All-America Team. The award was first introduced in 1977 for men's basketball and expanded to include women's basketball in 2004. The awards are given by the Los Angeles Athletic Club and are named after John Wooden, the 1932 national collegiate basketball player of the year from Purdue.
The All-America Team is a prestigious list of five players recognised as frontrunners for the Wooden Award for the Most Outstanding Player in the United States. The student-athletes selected for the All-America Team are considered strong candidates for the Wooden Award Player of the Year. The selection process is overseen by a National Advisory Board, which compiles a National Ballot featuring the top candidates who meet the award's criteria, including a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.
The Wooden Award All-America Team members are also invited to celebrate their philanthropic efforts, with the John R. Wooden Award Foundation contributing to their charitable initiatives. The Wooden Award program has provided more than 1,000 underprivileged children with scholarships to week-long college basketball camps. Additionally, the program partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Basketball Day, bringing together Special Olympics athletes, Wooden Award All-America Team members, and coaches during Wooden Award Weekend at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
The Wooden Award trophy is designed to showcase the five major skills that Wooden believed a "total" basketball player must exhibit: rebounding, passing, shooting, dribbling, and defence. The trophy features five bronze figures, each depicting one of these skills, attached to a pentagonal base plate. The winner's university also receives a replica trophy, and a scholarship grant is awarded to the winner's school.
Wheelchair Basketball: How Does It Work?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Wooden Award history
The John R. Wooden Award is considered the most prestigious Player of the Year award in college basketball. The award is given to the best men's and women's players and a "legend of coaching". The award was first introduced in 1976, with the men's award first presented in 1977, and the women's award following in 2004. The award is named after John Wooden, the 1932 national collegiate basketball player of the year from Purdue, who went on to become a legendary coach.
The award is bestowed upon the best men's and women's players and coaches in college basketball. The player of the year award comes with a trophy, which features five bronze figures, each depicting one of the five major skills that Wooden believed a "total" basketball player must exhibit: rebounding, passing, shooting, dribbling, and defense. The trophy is designed by sculptor Don Winton, who has sculpted many top sports awards. The trophy's base is made from solid walnut, and the award is presented at a gala in Los Angeles.
The Wooden Award program consists of the men's and women's player of the year awards, the Legends of Coaching Award, and recognition of the All-America teams. The All-American teams are announced the weekend of the "Final Four", and the players are evaluated based on their performance throughout the entire season, including the NCAA Tournament. The National Advisory Board, a 26-member panel, selects 15 men's and 15 women's candidates for player of the year and All-American Team honours, with five members selected for the women's team.
In 2025, USC star JuJu Watkins was named the winner of the Wooden Award for women's basketball. Watkins dominated the game, finishing fourth in the nation in scoring with 23.9 points per game, along with 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks in 33.8 minutes per night.
Melted Basketball Bladders: The Inner Secrets
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the John R. Wooden Award is given annually to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players.
The Wooden Award is considered the most prestigious Player of the Year award. It is presented to the best men's and women's players in college basketball, as well as a "Legend of Coaching".
The winner of the Wooden Award receives a trophy featuring five bronze figures, each depicting one of the five major skills that Wooden believed that "total" basketball player must exhibit: rebounding, passing, shooting, dribbling, and defense. The player's school receives a duplicate trophy and a scholarship grant.
The Wooden Award Committee considers a coach's character, success rate on the court, graduating rate of student athletes, coaching philosophy, and identification with the goals of the John R. Wooden Award. The winner is then selected by 250 sportswriters and sportscasters.
