University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hen Star Delle Donne Named to John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 20
1/22/2013 7:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – University of Delaware senior women's basketball standout Elena Delle Donne (at right) was announced Tuesday as a member of the 2013 John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 list.
The announcement was made by Steve Hathaway, President of The Los Angeles Club Athletic Club. Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the list is made up of 20 student-athletes who, based on their performances in November, December and January, are frontrunners for selection to the National Ballot of college basketball's most prestigious award.
The National Ballot consists of approximately 15 players who have proven to their universities that they are making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
Delle Donne, a 2012 finalist for the Wooden Award and a consensus All-American selection, averages 24.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest with 23 blocks and 17 assists through 10 games played for the Blue Hens this season. The forward missed six of the team's first seven games due to symptoms of Lyme Disease.
She is joined on the list by 2012 Wooden Award winner and two-time All-American Brittney Griner, who averages 21.6 points for Baylor and 2012 Wooden All-American Skylar Diggins, who puts up 15.3 points and 5.9 assists per contest for Notre Dame.
The Wooden Award All-American Team, consisting of the nation's top five players, will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament.
The John R. Wooden Award Player of the Year will be announced April 12 at The Los Angeles Athletic Club as part of the 37th annual Wooden Award Gala. The Gala will honor the Men's and Women's Wooden Award winners, All-Americans and the Legends of Coaching Award winner, Kansas head coach Bill Self.
Delaware (13-3; 4-0 CAA) looks to continue several winning streaks this Thursday as they host UNCW at 7 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center.
About the John R. Wooden Award
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird ('79), Michael Jordan ('84), Tim Duncan ('97), Candace Parker ('07 and '08), Kevin Durant ('09) and Maya Moore of Connecticut ('09 and '11).
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed close to a million dollars to universities' general scholarship fund in the names of the All American recipients. The Award has also sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps in the Award's name. Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long tournament, which brings together Special Olympic athletes and the All Americans, takes place at The Los Angeles Athletic Club the weekend of the John R. Wooden Award Gala.
Follow the candidates and get the latest news throughout the season by logging on towww.WoodenAward.com. For more information on the John R. Wooden Award, please contact the Wooden Award staff at 213-630-5206 or via email at woodenaward@laac.net.
2012-13 John R. Wooden Award Women's Midseason Top 20 List
|
PLAYER |
Ht. |
Yr. |
Pos. |
School |
|
Kelsey Bone |
6-4 |
Jr. |
C |
Texas A&M |
|
Elena Delle Donne$ |
6-5 |
Sr. |
G/F |
Delaware |
|
Skylar Diggins$ |
5-9 |
Sr. |
G |
Notre Dame |
|
Stefanie Dolson |
6-5 |
Jr. |
C |
Connecticut |
|
Kelly Faris |
5-11 |
Sr. |
G |
Connecticut |
|
Angel Goodrich |
5-4 |
Sr. |
G |
Kansas |
|
Chelsea Gray |
5-11 |
Jr. |
G |
Duke |
|
Brittney Griner#$% |
6-8 |
Sr. |
P |
Baylor |
|
Tianna Hawkins |
6-3 |
Sr. |
F |
Maryland |
|
Tayler Hill |
5-10 |
Sr. |
G |
Ohio State |
|
Maggie Lucas |
5-10 |
Jr. |
G |
Penn State |
|
A'dia Mathies |
5-9 |
Sr. |
G |
Kentucky |
|
Kayla McBride |
5-11 |
Jr. |
G |
Notre Dame |
|
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis |
6-0 |
So. |
F |
Connecticut |
|
Chiney Ogwumike |
6-3 |
Jr. |
F |
Stanford |
|
Sugar Rodgers |
5-11 |
Sr. |
G |
Georgetown |
|
Odyssey Sims |
5-8 |
Jr. |
G |
Baylor |
|
Alyssa Thomas |
6-2 |
Jr. |
F |
Maryland |
|
Elizabeth Williams |
6-3 |
So. |
C |
Duke |
Players listed alphabetically
# 2012 Wooden Award winner
$ 2012 Wooden All American
% 2011 Wooden All American
