AMES, Iowa – Iowa State junior forward Georges Niang has been named to the John R. Wooden Award watch list, announced today on ESPN SportsCenter and ESPN.com. Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for the sport’s most prestigious honor.
Niang opened his season with an impressive performance against Oakland last Friday. The preseason All-Big 12 selection scored 30 points to go along with nine rebounds and five assists.
Niang was a third-team all-conference selection last season, averaging 16.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Niang and the Cyclones return to action this evening against Georgia State. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. on ESPNU.
2014-15 John R. Wooden Award®
Presented by Wendy’s®
Preseason Top 50
| Name | School | Conference | Height | Class |
Position |
| Cliff Alexander | Kansas | Big 12 | 6-8 | Fr. | F |
| Brandon Ashley | Arizona | Pac-12 | 6-9 | Jr. | F |
| Ron Baker | Wichita State | Missouri Valley | 6-4 | Jr. | G |
| Ryan Boatright | UConn | The American | 6-0 | Sr. | G |
| Malcolm Brogdon | Virginia | ACC | 6-5 | Jr. | G |
| Willie Cauley-Stein | Kentucky | SEC | 7-0 | Jr. | F |
| Branden Dawson | Michigan State | Big Ten | 6-6 | Sr. | G/F |
| Sam Dekker | Wisconsin | Big Ten | 6-9 | Jr. | F |
| Perry Ellis | Kansas | Big 12 | 6-8 | Jr. | F |
| Yogi Ferrell | Indiana | Big Ten | 6-0 | Jr. | G |
| Marcus Foster | Kansas State | Big 12 | 6-3 | So. | G |
| Michael Frazier II | Florida | SEC | 6-4 | Jr. | G |
| Treveon Graham | VCU | Atlantic 10 | 6-6 | Sr. | G/F |
| Jerian Grant | Notre Dame | ACC | 6-5 | Sr. | G |
| Olivier Hanlan | Boston College | ACC | 6-4 | Jr. | G |
| Montrezl Harrell | Louisville | ACC | 6-8 | Jr. | F |
| Aaron Harrison | Kentucky | SEC | 6-6 | So. | G |
| Andrew Harrison | Kentucky | SEC | 6-6 | So. | G |
| Tyler Haws | BYU | WCC | 6-5 | Sr. | G |
| Buddy Hield | Oklahoma | Big 12 | 6-4 | Jr. | G |
| Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | Arizona | Pac-12 | 6-7 | So. | F |
| R.J. Hunter | Georgia State | Sun Belt | 6-6 | Jr. | G |
| Stanley Johnson | Arizona | Pac-12 | 6-7 | Fr. | F |
| Tyus Jones | Duke | ACC | 6-1 | Fr. | G |
| Frank Kaminsky | Wisconsin | Big Ten | 7-0 | Sr. | F |
| Caris LeVert | Michigan | Big Ten | 6-7 | Jr. | G |
| Jordan Mickey | LSU | SEC | 6-8 | So. | F |
| Nic Moore | SMU | The American | 5-9 | Jr. | G |
| Georges Niang | Iowa State | Big 12 | 6-8 | Jr. | F |
| Jahlil Okafor | Duke | ACC | 6-11 | Fr. | C |
| Kelly Oubre, Jr. | Kansas | Big 12 | 6-7 | Fr. | G |
| Marcus Paige | North Carolina | ACC | 6-1 | Jr. | G |
| Kevin Pangos | Gonzaga | WCC | 6-2 | Sr. | G |
| Terran Petteway | Nebraska | Big Ten | 6-6 | Jr. | F |
| Bobby Portis | Arkansas | SEC | 6-11 | So. | F |
| Chasson Randle | Stanford | Pac-12 | 6-2 | Sr. | G |
| Terry Rozier | Louisville | ACC | 6-1 | So. | G |
| Wesley Saunders | Harvard | Ivy League | 6-5 | Sr. | G |
| Josh Scott | Colorado | Pac-12 | 6-10 | Jr. | F |
| Wayne Selden, Jr. | Kansas | Big 12 | 6-5 | So. | G |
| D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera | Georgetown | Big East | 6-3 | Jr. | G |
| Juwan Staten | West Virginia | Big 12 | 6-1 | Sr. | G |
| Keifer Sykes | Green Bay | Horizon League | 6-0 | Sr. | G |
| Isaiah Taylor | Texas | Big 12 | 6-1 | So. | G |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Kentucky | SEC | 6-11 | Fr. | F |
| Myles Turner | Texas | Big 12 | 6-11 | Fr. | F |
| Fred VanVleet | Wichita State | Missouri Valley | 6-0 | Jr. | G |
| Dez Wells | Maryland | Big Ten | 6-5 | Sr. | G/F |
| Delon Wright | Utah | Pac-12 | 6-5 | Sr. | G |
| Joseph Young | Oregon | Pac-12 | 6-2 | Sr. | G |