Amanda Knapp
The Heisman Trophy is one of the most prestigious awards in American college football, given annually to the most outstanding college football player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The award has been given out since 1935, and the winner is determined by votes from sports journalists, previous Heisman winners, and fans. While there is no equivalent award specifically called the Heisman Trophy for Basketball, the Naismith Award and the John R. Wooden Award are considered the most prestigious awards in college basketball, with the latter drawing the most comparisons to the Heisman Trophy due to its focus on recognizing the top individual player.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description | One of the highest individual awards in American college football |
| First awarded | 1935 |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Eligibility | All football players playing in all divisions of college football nationwide |
| Voters | Sports journalists, previous Heisman winners, fans |
| Voting mechanism | Positional voting with a 3-2-1 point system |
| Other names | DAC Trophy |
| Presenter | Heisman Trust, successors of the Downtown Athletic Club |
| Named after | John Heisman |
| Inspired awards | Hobey (hockey), Hermann Trophy (Division I soccer), Nissen Award (gymnastics), The Hill (NCAA Division II), Dan Hodge Trophy (amateur wrestling) |
| Basketball equivalent | Jim Nantz giving his tie to a senior on the winning team, Naismith Award, John R. Wooden Award |
| Notable winners | Mark Ingram II, O. J. Simpson, Reggie Bush, Johnny Manziel, Jay Berwanger, Travis Hunter |
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What You'll Learn
College basketball's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Trophy is one of the most prestigious awards in American college football. It is awarded annually to the most outstanding college football player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The award has been given out since 1935 and is presented by the Heisman Trust.
While there is no direct equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in college basketball, there are other awards that recognize outstanding players in this sport. The Naismith Award and the John R. Wooden Award are two notable examples. The former categorizes winners into one of three positions: guard, forward, and center. The latter has been dubbed by some as "the Heisman Trophy of college basketball." Jay Bilas of ESPN remarked in 2013 that:
> "The Wooden Award is the Heisman Trophy of college basketball, and we have certainly lived up to the standard set by the Heisman discussion in college football by making every game a referendum on whether a Wooden Award candidate can play."
Another unique tradition in college basketball is that of Jim Nantz, who gives his tie to a senior on the winning team after every National Championship game. This has been likened to the Heisman Trophy in college football.
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The John R. Wooden Award
The Wooden Award program consists of the men's and women's player of the year awards, the Legends of Coaching Award, and the recognition of All-America teams. The player of the year award was originally given only to men's basketball players starting in 1977 and expanded to women's players in 2004. The Legends of Coaching Award was first presented in 1999 to recognize the lifetime achievement of coaches who exemplify Coach Wooden's high standards of coaching success and personal achievement.
The top 10 vote-getters are selected to the All-American Team, and the results are announced following the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament. The person who receives the most votes is named the national player of the year, and the winner is announced following the NCAA championship game. The award's 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 honors. After the Elite Eight, the field is narrowed down to 10 finalists each.
The trophy consists of five bronze figures attached to a pentagonal base plate made of solid walnut. The tallest figure is 101/4 inches high (26 cm), while the total height of the trophy is 173/4 inches (45 cm), and it weighs 25 lb (11 kg). The Los Angeles Athletic Club presents the awards, which are named in honor of John Wooden, the 1932 national collegiate basketball player of the year from Purdue. Wooden later taught and coached men's basketball at Indiana State and UCLA, and he was the first man to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.
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Naismith Award winners in men's basketball
The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding college football player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. There is no equivalent award for basketball players called the Heisman Trophy. However, the Naismith College Player of the Year award is considered "the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men's and women's college basketball players of the year." The award is named after James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, and was first awarded in 1969 exclusively to male players, before being expanded to include female players in 1983.
- Kevin Durant (Texas, 2007)
- Anthony Davis (Kentucky, 2012)
- Zion Williamson (Duke, 2019)
- Zach Edey (2024, 2025)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (previously known as Lew Alcindor)
- Danny Vranes
- James Worthy
- Tayshaun Prince
Through 2024–25, Duke has the most male winners with nine awards.
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Heisman Trophy and Naismith Award winners from the same school
The Heisman Trophy is awarded to college football's most outstanding player. The award was first introduced in 1935 and is named after John Heisman, the athletic director of the Downtown Athletic Club, who died in 1936. The Naismith Award, on the other hand, is presented to the best men's and women's college basketball players.
Since the inception of these awards, only four schools have produced winners of both the Heisman Trophy and the Naismith Award. These elite schools are Oklahoma, Texas, Brigham Young University (BYU), and one other unnamed school. Oklahoma has produced a combined eight winners of the Heisman Trophy and Naismith Award, which is tied with Notre Dame and Ohio State for the most winners.
In the 2008-09 school year, former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and forward Blake Griffin became the first pair from the same school to win the Heisman Trophy and Naismith Award in the same year. In 2011, BYU basketball star Jimmer Fredette earned the Naismith College Player of the Year Award, becoming the first BYU athlete to receive this honour.
Other notable Heisman Trophy winners include Archie Griffin, who is the only player to have won the award twice (1974 and 1975), and Bryce Young, the first quarterback in Alabama history to win the award in 2021.
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Correlation between position and award winners
There is no equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in basketball. The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding college football player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). It is one of the highest individual awards in American college football and has been awarded annually since its creation in 1935.
The closest equivalent in basketball would be the NBA MVP award, which is given to the most valuable player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The NBA also presents 12 other annual awards to recognize teams, players, and coaches for their accomplishments. However, these awards are not specifically categorized by position, unlike the Heisman Trophy, which is specifically for the most outstanding college football player.
While there is no direct correlation between position and award winners in basketball like there is in football with the Heisman Trophy, it is worth noting that certain positions may be favored for certain awards. For example, the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award is typically given to players who excel in defensive statistics such as blocks and steals, which are more commonly associated with frontcourt players like centers and power forwards.
On the other hand, the NBA's Most Improved Player award often goes to players who have made significant leaps in their overall game, regardless of their position. This award recognizes players who have worked hard to improve their skills and contributions to their team, and it is not limited to a specific position.
Additionally, it is important to consider the impact of positional versatility on award considerations. Players who can effectively play multiple positions, like Tim Duncan, who played both power forward and center, may be favored for certain awards that value versatility and adaptability. Their ability to excel in multiple roles can set them apart from players who are more positionally limited.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there is no Heisman Trophy for basketball. The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding college football player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). However, there are other awards in basketball that are considered the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, such as the Naismith Award and the John R. Wooden Award.
The Naismith Award is an award given to the top player in college basketball. It is named after Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. The award is presented annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
The John R. Wooden Award is also given to the top player in college basketball. It is named after John Wooden, a Hall of Fame college basketball coach. The award is presented annually by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Both the Heisman Trophy and the Naismith Award are considered to be the most prestigious awards in their respective sports. They are both awarded to the most outstanding player in their respective sports. Additionally, both awards have a rich history and tradition, with the Heisman Trophy being awarded since 1935 and the Naismith Award being first presented in 1969.
The main difference between the Heisman Trophy and the Naismith Award is the sport they recognize. The Heisman Trophy is awarded in college football, while the Naismith Award is given in college basketball. Another difference is the voting process. The Heisman Trophy is determined by a panel of sports journalists, former winners, and fans, while the Naismith Award is selected by a committee of basketball coaches, administrators, and media members.
