ESPN has signed an agreement with The Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) to be the exclusive multimedia and announcement partner of the John R. Wooden Award, the preeminent men’s collegiate basketball player of the year award. The restaurant chain Wendy’s will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Award and ESPN’s season-long coverage.

Three All Americans return, including 2012 Wooden Award winner Brittney Griner

Los Angeles (November 9, 2012)— The Los Angeles Athletic Club has announced its John R. Wooden Award Women’s Preseason Top 30 today, which is comprised of 30 student-athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early front-runners for college basketball’s most prestigious honor. The list is chosen by a preseason poll of national college women’s basketball media members.

Los Angeles (November 8, 2012)— The Los Angeles Athletic Club has announced its Preseason Top 50 today on ESPN.com. Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball media members, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early front-runners for college basketball’s most prestigious honor.

University of Kansas Head Basketball Coach Bill Self will be awarded the John R. Wooden Award’s “Legends of Coaching” honor in 2013, Coach Wooden’s daughter, Nan Wooden Muehlhausen, announced today at the annual Los Angeles Athletic Club Wooden Award Tip-off Luncheon. The award recognizes coaches who exemplify Coach Wooden’s high standards of coaching success and personal integrity.

Los Angeles (April 6, 2012)— The John R. Wooden Award®, the preeminent collegiate basketball player of the year award, was presented this evening at the Los Angeles Athletic Club by Coach John Wooden’s daughter, Nan, to Baylor University’s Brittney Griner. Baylor Assistant Coach Damion McKinney accepted the Award on Griner’s behalf, as the 6-8 junior needed to attend class today, and then went to Houston to be with her ill mother, and thus was not able to make the trip to Los Angeles. Nan Wooden made the announcement and presented Coach McKinney with the Wooden Award Trophy whose unique design was inspired by Coach Wooden’s idea of the “total basketball player.”

Live streaming of the John R. Wooden Award Presentation Gala will begin Friday April 6, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. (PST).
Click on the link below to view the video online:

http://new.livestream.com/woodenawardbb/woodenaward2012

New Orleans (March 31, 2012)— The John R. Wooden Award®, the preeminent men’s collegiate basketball player of the year award, was presented today on ESPN by Coach John Wooden’s grandson, Greg, on behalf of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, to University of Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis. Greg Wooden made the announcement on College GameDay and presented Davis with the Wooden Award Trophy whose unique design was inspired by Coach Wooden’s idea of the “total basketball player.” The 36th Annual Wooden Award Gala, honoring Davis and the entire Wooden All American Team, will take place Friday April 6 at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Los Angeles (March 28, 2012)— The John R. Wooden Award® has announced today its women’s All American Team for 2011-12. All five players have proven that they are making progress toward graduation and are maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA, an important component of the Award insisted upon by Coach Wooden. In addition to academics, the Wooden Award is unique among college postseason awards because voters could consider performance during the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

Los Angeles (March 26, 2012)— The John R. Wooden Award has announced today its men’s All American team for 2011-12 on ESPN.com. All 10 players have proven that they are making progress toward graduation and are maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA, an important component of the Award insisted upon by Coach Wooden.In addition to the academic aspect, the Wooden Award is unique among college postseason awards because voters could consider performance during the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Women’s All American team will be announced Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Athletic Club has announced today the appointment of Sam Lagana and Tommy Hawkins as co-chairmen of the John R. Wooden Award and its National Steering Committee. Both men are longtime supporters of the Award, and they replace the Award’s co-founders and their good friends, Richard “Duke” Llewellyn and Coach John Wooden, both of whom passed away on June 4, 2010.