Alabama Freshman Collin Sexton Named to John Wooden Award Midseason Top-25 List

Alabama men’s basketball freshman guard Collin Sexton was named on the 2018 John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top-25 list, it was announced on Thursday. Sexton is one of six freshmen and two Southeastern Conference student-athletes who are considered frontrunners for the sports’ most prestigious honor.

 The list was chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the first half of the 2017-18 season.

After 15 appearances on the hardwood, Sexton is averaging 19.5 ppg, which leads the SEC, while also ranking second in the league in both free throws made (97) and attempted (123). The Mableton, Ga., native currently owns 12 double-figure scoring games, nine games of scoring 20 or more points and two 30-point contests on the season for the Crimson Tide.

On Nov. 25 against then-No. 14 Minnesota, Sexton set an Alabama freshman record when he scored 40 points, including 31 in the second half. He became the first Crimson Tide player to score 40 points in a game since Reggie King had 43 on March, 12, 1979 against Virginia. Furthermore, he became the first Alabama freshman in the modern era to record three straight games of more than 20 points in each of his first three contests.

The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2018 John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s. The leading candidates will be further pared to 20 players in early February. Fifteen top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA will be submitted to voters on the Final Ballot prior to the NCAA Tournament. Sexton earned a perfect 4.0 GPA in the fall semester.

The 10-man Wooden Award All American Team will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2018 John R. Wooden Award will be presented during the ESPN College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy’s on Friday, April 6, 2018.

John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy’s

2017-18 Midseason Top 25

Name                      School          Class  Position

Grayson Allen         Duke             Sr.      G

Deandre Ayton       Arizona         Fr.      F

Marvin Bagley III     Duke             Fr.      F

Mohamed Bamba   Texas            Fr.      F

Joel Berry II  North Carolina        Sr.      G

Trevon Bluiett         Xavier           Sr.      G

Mikal Bridges          Villanova       Jr.       G/F

Miles Bridges          Michigan State So.     G/F

Jalen Brunson         Villanova       Jr.       G

Jevon Carter           West Virginia Sr.      G

Bonzie Colson         Notre Dame Sr.      F

Angel Delgado        Seton Hall     Sr.      C

Marcus Foster         Creighton     Sr.      G

Devonte' Graham   Kansas          Sr.      G

Tra Holder              Arizona State     Sr.      G

Aaron Holiday         UCLA            Jr.       G

Jock Landale           Saint Mary's   Sr.      C

Yante Maten           Georgia        Sr.      F

Luke Maye              UNC             Jr.       F

Brandon McCoy      UNLV            Fr.      F

Jordan Murphy       Minnesota    Jr.       F

Collin Sexton          Alabama       Fr.      G

Landry Shamet        Wichita State So.     G

Allonzo Trier           Arizona         Jr.       G

Trae Young             Oklahoma     Fr.      G