Marquette University Athletics
James Named to Naismith Award Preseason List
11/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2006
ATLANTA - Sophomore guard Dominic James was named one of the 50 players on the Naismith Trophy Men's Preseason Candidates list. The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men's and women's players of the year.
The Top 50 list was compiled 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 pre-season criteria on player performances from last season and expectations for the 2006-07 season.
James has led no. 13 Marquette to a 6-0 start, including four wins in the CBE Classic tournament.
Cingular Wireless will continue to set the standard in allowing fans to participate in determining this year's winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25% of the final results - more than any other national award.
In January, the Naismith Trophy Voting Academy will narrow its pre-season list to the Top 30 players in the nation. Those players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March. Beginning in mid-February, CBS' "Cingular at the Half" will feature a weekly Naismith Trophy update highlighting the players in contention. In April, the Naismith Trophy winner will be recognized at the NCAA Men's Final Four in Atlanta.
The pre-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:
Lester Abram G Michigan
Arron Affalo G UCLA
De'Angelo Alexander G Charlotte
Morris Almond G Rice
Corey Brewer F Florida
Coleman Collins F Virginia Tech
JamesOn Curry G Oklahoma State
Jemareo Davidson F Alabama
Glen Davis F LSU
Jared Dudley F Boston College
Nick Fazekas F Nevada
Shan Foster F/G Vanderbilt
Nate Funk G Creighton
Aaron Gray C Pittsburgh
Jeff Green F Georgetown
Taurean Green G Florida
Caleb Green F Oral Roberts
Malik Hairston G Oregon
Adam Haluska G Iowa
Lamont Hamilton F St. John's
Tyler Hansbrough F UNC
Roy Hibbert C Georgetown
Al Horford F/C Florida
Jarrius Jackson G Texas Tech
Dominic James G Marquette
Joseph Jones F/C Texas A&M
Acie Law G Texas A&M
Courtney Lee G/F Western Kentucky
Chris Lofton G Tennessee
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute F UCLA
Josh McRoberts F Duke
Sammy Mejia G DePaul
Randolph Morris F Kentucky
Anthony Morrow G Georgia Tech
DeMarcus Nelson G Duke
Joakim Noah F/C Florida
Richard Roby G Colorado
Brandon Rush G Kansas
Mustafa Shakur G Arizona
Sean Singeltary G Virginia
Ronald Steele G Alabama
Loren Stokes G Hofstra
Curtis Sumpter F Villanova
Kammron Taylor G Wisconsin
Reyshawn Terry F UNC
Al Thorton F Florida State
Alando Tucker F Wisconsin
D.J. White F Indiana
Marcus Williams F Arizona
Julian Wright F Kansas
Last year's Naismith Trophy recipient was Duke University guard J.J. Redick. Other notable men's college player of the year winners include Bill Walton, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Christian Laettner.
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 Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969.
Marquette returns to action on Monday, November 27 visiting Valpariaso at 7 p.m. EST.
