The 2006 John R. Wooden Award was a grand celebration enjoyed by all. Duke University guard J.J. Redick was named college basketball player of the year and presented with the prestigious Wooden Award during a national CBS telecast live from The Los Angeles Athletic Club. Additionally during the broadcast Jim Boeheim of Syracuse University was presented with the Legends of Coaching Award and Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller announced that LSU’s Seimone Augustus was the first repeat winner (2005 & 2006) of the Women’s Wooden Award. In the third closest race in Award history, J.J. Redick edged out Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison by just 74 points. Morrison and the other men’s Wooden Award All-Americans, Randy Foye of Villanova, Brandon Roy of Washington and Shelden Williams of Duke, were all on hand to experience Wooden Award weekend. Also participating in the festivities were the Women’s Wooden Award All-Americans including runner-up Ivory Latta of North Carolina, Duke’s Monique Currie and Courtney Paris of Oklahoma. Augustus’s parents, Seymore and Kim, accepted the third annual Women’s Wooden Award on behalf of Seimone as she and fellow Wooden Award All-American Cappie Pondexter of Rutgers were traveling with Team USA to compete in an international tournament in Australia. One of the many highlights of the weekend was the Special Olympics basketball tournament held at The Club the day prior to the announcement. Wooden Award court played host to the tourney which featured interaction between the Wooden Award All-Americans as honorary coaches and the Special Olympics athletes, with both undoubtedly providing lessons to be shared by all in attendance. Adam Morrison’s squad narrowly escaped with a victory in a thrilling championship game over Shelden William’s determined team. On Saturday, following the nationally televised announcement, there was a magnificent celebration with a sell out crowd at the Awards banquet. The Awards ceremony, exuding a family atmosphere, not only acknowledged the fine athletes and coaches involved but also celebrated the great game of college basketball. The black-tie gala culminated a special Wooden Award weekend and another fantastic year of college basketball!