Bouknight Named To Wooden Short List

LOS ANGELES—UConn sophomore guard James Bouknight has been named to the John R. Wooden Award Mid-Season Top 25 Watch List, announced today by the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Bouknight, who currently leads the Big East Conference in scoring and was named to the Wooden Award Top 50 preseason watch list last month, joins a list of 25 players across the country who are front-runners for the prestigious John R. Wooden Award, which encompasses the Wooden Award All-American Team, as well as the Most Outstanding Player Award.

UConn's top scorer with a 20.3 average, Bouknight has led the @UConnHuskies to a 5-1 mark so far this season. He is also on the watch list of two other national awards, the Naismith Trophy Award and the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award. The Brooklyn, NY, native has been named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll twice this season. He was also named to the Preseason All-Big Eeast Second Team. He is UConn's leading returning scorer from last season (13.0).

The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2021 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year. Players not chosen to the mid-season list are still eligible for the Wooden Award 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 in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early-round games. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2021 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy's following the NCAA Tournament in April.

—Staff Reports