March 26, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman Anthony Davis has added first team All-America accolades to both the Associated Press (AP) and John Wooden teams it was announced Monday afternoon.

Davis is one of 10 players named to the John Wooden team, while he is a part of a five-member team on the AP squad.

UK’s freshman received 63 first-team votes to the AP All-America team. Davis adds to the list of at least one freshman player earning first-team honors in five of the last six years. The last Wildcats to earn the honor were John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins in 2010.

All 10 players tabbed to the John Wooden All-America team have proven that they are making progress toward graduation and are maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 grade point average, 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.

Davis has had one of the most memorable freshman campaigns in national history. He averages a team-leading 14.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while leading the Wildcats to a 36-2 overall record, its second consecutive Final Four berth, an undefeated Southeastern Conference season and championship.

The Chicago native has logged 175 blocks which is the most in the history of the SEC. He’s also been the driving force in that statistical category in helping the Wildcats break the NCAA all-time mark with a running total of 326 for the season.

The 36th annual Wooden Award Gala will take place on Friday, April 6, 2012 and will honor the men’s and women’s winners, All Americans and the Legends of Coaching winner Geno Auriemma of Connecticut. The John R. Wooden Award winner will be announced Saturday, March 31 on ESPN at the Final Four in New Orleans, La.

That same night Davis and the Wildcats will hit the floor for the first of two NCAA semifinals with UK meeting Louisville at 6:09 p.m. ET.