March 8, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. – UK freshman John Wall has been named National Player of the Year by Yahoo! Sports, while both Wall and DeMarcus Cousins were named First Team All-America by the online publication.

Wall was also named Yahoo’s Freshman of the Year while Patrick Patterson received Honorable Mention All-America honors.

Wall, a 6-4 guard from Raleigh, N.C., is UK’s all-time leading freshman scorer and assist leader. He leads the Southeastern Conference and ranks fifth nationally in assists (6.2) and ranks fifth in scoring (16.8).

Cousins has set all-time records for Wildcat freshmen in double-doubles with 18, and rebounds with 312, while averaging 10.0 boards a game, second best in the SEC. His 18 double-doubles is the most in the league this season and the most by a Wildcat since the 1973 season.

Additionally, Wall was named National Freshman of the Year by Sporting News magazine, while DeMarcus Cousins received Freshman All-America status by the publication.