Gators Receive Prestigious Preseason Award Recognitions
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 | Men's Basketball
Several Gators saw their names appear on the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy preseason watch lists.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Florida men's basketball's Kerry Blackshear Jr., Scottie Lewis and Andrew Nembhard were named to the 2020 the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Blackshear and Nembhard were also named to the 2020 Citizen Naismith Trophy Men's Player of the Year watch list as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club this past Monday.
The Wooden Award is among the most prestigious individual honors in collegiate basketball as it recognizes the most outstanding basketball player each year. Determined by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of the top 50 student-athletes who are early front-runners for the Award.
As a graduate transfer, Blackshear joins Florida's roster after a successful stint at Virginia Tech. During his time in Blacksburg, Va., Blackshear amassed 1,152 points and 616 rebounds. Last season, the Orlando, Fla., native averaged 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds to go along with nine double-double and seven games with 20 or more points.
Lewis enters his first season in Gainesville, Fla., pegged as a top-10 recruit. The five-star newcomer earned McDonald All-American honors and was named to USA's Nike Hoop Summit roster. As a senior in high school, Lewis averaged an impressive 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
Nembhard returns for his sophomore season with the Gators after a successful first-year campaign. As a freshman, Nembhard was a steady hand for UF, starting all 36 contests while averaging 8.0 points and 5.4 assists per game. This past summer, the sophomore continued to developed his skills, competing on Canada's National Team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The Wooden Award All American Team will be announced the week of the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2020 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy's during the ESPN College Basketball Awards
In addition to their preseason Wooden Award recognition, Blackshear and Nembhard were also two of 50 men's players named Naismith Trophy watch list earlier this week. Similar to the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy rewards impressive efforts and is presented to the most outstanding basketball player in the NCAA.
Florida, Duke, Davidson, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and Michigan State are the only schools that have two players on the Naismith Trophy preseason watch list. The winner of the award will be revealed during the Final Four at the Naismith Awards Brunch on April 5, 2020.
No. 6 Florida opens its regular season against the University of North Florida tonight (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network) at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
Meanwhile, Blackshear and Nembhard were also named to the 2020 Citizen Naismith Trophy Men's Player of the Year watch list as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club this past Monday.
The Wooden Award is among the most prestigious individual honors in collegiate basketball as it recognizes the most outstanding basketball player each year. Determined by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of the top 50 student-athletes who are early front-runners for the Award.
As a graduate transfer, Blackshear joins Florida's roster after a successful stint at Virginia Tech. During his time in Blacksburg, Va., Blackshear amassed 1,152 points and 616 rebounds. Last season, the Orlando, Fla., native averaged 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds to go along with nine double-double and seven games with 20 or more points.
Lewis enters his first season in Gainesville, Fla., pegged as a top-10 recruit. The five-star newcomer earned McDonald All-American honors and was named to USA's Nike Hoop Summit roster. As a senior in high school, Lewis averaged an impressive 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
Nembhard returns for his sophomore season with the Gators after a successful first-year campaign. As a freshman, Nembhard was a steady hand for UF, starting all 36 contests while averaging 8.0 points and 5.4 assists per game. This past summer, the sophomore continued to developed his skills, competing on Canada's National Team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The Wooden Award All American Team will be announced the week of the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2020 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy's during the ESPN College Basketball Awards
In addition to their preseason Wooden Award recognition, Blackshear and Nembhard were also two of 50 men's players named Naismith Trophy watch list earlier this week. Similar to the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy rewards impressive efforts and is presented to the most outstanding basketball player in the NCAA.
Florida, Duke, Davidson, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and Michigan State are the only schools that have two players on the Naismith Trophy preseason watch list. The winner of the award will be revealed during the Final Four at the Naismith Awards Brunch on April 5, 2020.
No. 6 Florida opens its regular season against the University of North Florida tonight (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network) at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
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