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Award Facts
The Wooden Award, presented annually to the outstanding collegiate basketball Player of the Year, was founded in 1976.
The Awards’ 26-person blue ribbon National Advisory Board selects the ballot of approximately 20 candidates for the Player of the Year and All-American Team honors. These candidates must be full time students with a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher throughout their college career coupled with outstanding contributions to team play and citizenship are mandatory for selection. The candidates are announced prior to the NCAA Tournament and are listed on the ballot, which is sent to the Wooden Award voters.
Over 1,000 voters select the Player of the Year and All-American Team members each year. Voters are sportswriters and sportscasters who collectively represent each of the 50 states, with the number of voters from each state being dependent on the state’s population.
The 10 man All-American Team is announced shortly after the “Final Four” is determined. The five players who receive the most votes are invited to The Los Angeles Athletic Club after the NCAA championship game for the All-American Team presentation. One of these five players is named the Player of the Year during a nationally televised presentation on CBS from The Club.
Following the announcement of the Player of the Year, a black-tie dinner is held in Los Angeles. The Player of the Year is awarded the five-figured bronze trophy and a scholarship grant in his name is sent to his university. A duplicate trophy bearing his name is given to his school.
The four other All-American Team members present receive an All-American Team trophy, jacket, plus a scholarship grant in their name is sent to their university. Each coach of the five top team members receives a jacket similar to the All-American Team jacket.
The All-American Team members ranked six through 10, who are not in Los Angeles, receive an All-American Team trophy and jacket in a presentation at their schools.
The Wooden Award Board of Governors is made up of twelve of the top coaches throughout the nation and is chaired by John Wooden and Vice Chaired by Dean Smith. They represent the game of collegiate basketball as it applies to the award.
The accounting firm Deloitte & Touche tabulates all ballots as well as oversees and handles all voting procedures.
Women’s Category
The Women’s Award is in its third year.
Presented annually to the outstanding collegiate female basketball Player of the Year, the five women All-American Team is selected by over 250 voters made up of sportswriters and sportscasters across the country.
The Women’s Award 12-person blue ribbon National Advisory Board selects a ballot of approximately 15 candidates to be elected for the female Player of the Year and All-American Team honors. (The criteria is the same as the men’s award.)
The Player of the Year is awarded her trophy and a scholarship grant in her name is sent to her university. A duplicate trophy bearing her name is given to her school.
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