Ben Simmons Named To John R. Wooden Award Watch List

Skilled LSU freshman forward Ben Simmons was named to The John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 watch list, which was announced Tuesday. Per LSUSports.net:

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Simmons is one of seven SEC players on the list, representing the No. 19/23 Tigers, who are 2-0 heading into Thursday night’s game with South Alabama at 8 p.m. at the Maravich Center. Simmons had 11 points and 13 rebounds in his opener and then 22 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks and 4 steals in the win Monday night, 91-69, over Kennesaw State.

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The winner of the award will be announced during the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show on Friday, April 8, 2016.

Here is the complete 2015-16 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Watch List:

Name, School, Position, Class
Grayson Allen, Duke, G, So.
Zach Auguste, Notre Dame, F, Sr.
Ron Baker, Wichita State, G, Sr.
DeAndre' Bembry, St. Joseph's, F, Jr.
James Blackmon Jr., Indiana, G, So.
Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia, G, Sr.
Jaylen Brown, Cal, F, Fr.
Jalen Brunson, Villanova, G, Fr.
Kyle Collinsworth, BYU, G, Sr.
Kellen Dunham, Butler, G, Sr.
Kris Dunn, Providence, G, Jr.
Perry Ellis, Kansas, F, Sr.
Yogi Ferrell, Indiana, G, Sr.
Rico Gathers, Baylor, F, Sr.
Anthony Gill, Virginia, F, Sr.
Daniel Hamilton, UConn, G, So.
AJ Hammons, Purdue, C, Sr.
Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin, F, Jr.
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma, G, Sr.
Danuel House, Texas A&M, G, Sr.
Brandon Ingram, Duke, G, Fr.
Demtrius Jackson, Notre Dame, G, Jr.
Brice Johnson, North Carolina, F, Sr.
Damian Jones, Vanderbilt, C, Jr.
Bronson Koenig, Wisconsin, G, Jr.
Skal Labisserie, Kentucky, F, Fr.
Jake Layman, Maryland, F, Sr.
Caris LeVert, Michigan, G, Sr.
Nic Moore, SMU, G, Sr.
Monte Morris, Iowa State, G, Jr.
Jamal Murray, Kentucky, G, Fr.
Malik Newman, Mississippi State, G, Fr.
Georges Niang, Iowa State, F, Sr.
Marcus Paige, North Carolina, G, Sr.
Gary Payton II, Oregon State, G, Sr.
Jakob Poetl, Utah, F, So.
Taurean Prince, Baylor, F, Sr.
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Florida State, G, So.
Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga, F, So.
Ben Simmons, LSU, F, Fr.
D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown, G, Sr.
Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona, C, Sr.
Isaiah Taylor, Texas, G, So.
Melo Trimble, Maryland, G, So.
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky, G, So.
Denzel Valentine, Michigan State, G, Sr.
Fred VanVleet, Wichita State, G, Sr.
Tyrone Wallace, Cal, G, Sr.
Troy Williams, Indiana, F, Jr.
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga, F, Sr.