Feb. 26, 2015
ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has named Kentucky junior forward Willie Cauley-Stein a finalist for the 2015 Oscar Robertson Trophy, to be presented to the association’s national player of the year.
Cauley-Stein is one of 14 finalists for the award, which will be presented at the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards on April 14 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
Among the finalists are five seniors, six juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen. Cauley-Stein, a junior, is averaging 9.4 points – the second most of any UK frontcourt player – and 6.4 rebounds. The Olathe, Kan., native has recorded 12 double-figure scoring games this season, including a 21-point, 12-rebound performance against then-No. 6 Texas in December. He leads the team with 39 steals and has swatted 43 shots on the year.
The 7-footer is the first player in program history to amass 200 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals, having achieved the feat earlier this season. He’s also one of just eight players in program history with 500 or more rebounds, 100 or more blocks, and 75 or more steals.
While the 15 finalists are the leading contenders to be named to the USBWA’s All-America Team, all Division I players remain eligible for postseason honors from the USBWA. The association will announce its 2015 All-America Team in mid-March. Ballots for this season’s USBWA men’s honors will be distributed to the entire membership on March 2.
Tickets and sponsorship information for the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards are available atcollegebasketballawards.com or by contacting Scott Hill (405-749-1515, scott.hill@access-sports.net).
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. In 1998, the award was named in honor of the University of Cincinnati Hall of Famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year Oscar Robertson.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season.
UK returns to action Saturday when it hosts Arkansas at Rupp Arena. That game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. ET tip on CBS.
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyMBB on Twitter and on the web at UKathletics.com.
Oscar Robertson Trophy Finalists
Ron Baker, Wichita State
Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse
Jerian Grant, Notre Dame
Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
Georges Niang, Iowa State
Jahlil Okafor, Duke
Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga
Bobby Portis, Arkansas
D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State
Seth Tuttle, Northern Iowa
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
Delon Wright, Utah
