The Prestigious Wooden Award in NCAA Basketball

The John R. Wooden Award stands as one of college basketball's highest individual honors, recognizing excellence both on and off the court. Established in 1976, this annual award celebrates the most outstanding men's and women's players who exemplify the qualities of legendary UCLA coach John Wooden.

Selection Criteria and Significance

To be eligible for the Wooden Award, players must:

• Maintain full-time student status with a minimum 2.00 GPA
• Demonstrate outstanding on-court performance (offensive and defensive)
• Contribute significantly to team success
• Exhibit strong character and leadership qualities

The candidate pool is narrowed to 20 players mid-season, with final voting conducted by 1,000+ basketball experts including coaches, administrators, and media members.

Recent Wooden Award Winners

The 2024 season saw dominant performances from:

• Zach Edey (Purdue): The 7'4" center became just the third back-to-back winner in men's history
• Caitlin Clark (Iowa): The record-breaking guard captured her second consecutive award

Complete Historical Winners List (1977-2024)

Men's Wooden Award Recipients

Notable multiple winners include Ralph Sampson (1982-83) and recent sensation Zach Edey.

Women's Wooden Award Recipients

UConn legends Breanna Stewart and Maya Moore each won twice during their collegiate careers.

Wooden vs. Naismith: Understanding the Differences

While both recognize elite talent:

• The Wooden Award emphasizes all-around excellence including academics
• The Naismith Award focuses purely on on-court performance
• Wooden Award voting occurs later in the season (including tournament play)

Future Candidates to Watch

Keep an eye on these 2025 contenders:

• Paige Bueckers (UConn, women's)
• JuJu Watkins (USC, women's)
• Cooper Flagg (Duke, men's)
• Johni Broome (Auburn, men's)

The Wooden Award continues to highlight basketball's brightest stars while honoring John Wooden's legacy of excellence in academics, athletics, and character.