University of Florida sophomore point guard Nick Calathes was among 30 candidates selected for the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 30, announced on Friday. Comprised of the players who will compete for this season's player of the year award, the midseason list is based on individual player performance and team records during the first half of the season
Calathes leads the Gators, currently 19-4 and leading the SEC East, in scoring (18.1 points per game), assists (6.4 assists per game) and steals (1.9 steals per game). He ranks ninth in the nation in assists per game and is on pace to have the highest average in UF history.
The Casselberry, Fla., native is just 31 points shy of 1,000 for his career and is on pace to reach the mark faster than any Gator in nearly 25 years.
He is the first Gator to make the Top 30 list since Corey Brewer, Taurean Green and Joakim Noah were all on the list in 2007. Calathes was one of three SEC players to make the list, joining Jodie Meeks of Kentucky and Tyler Smith of Tennessee.
In March the Wooden Award Committee will select 20 players, chosen by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board Committee, who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
More than 1,000 voters, comprised of sports media members and college basketball experts from across the nation, will then cast their votes to determine both the 10-member All American Team and Player of the Year. In late March, the 10-player Wooden Award All American Team will be announced.
The 2009 Award ceremony will be held at The Los Angeles Athletic Club the weekend of April 11-12.
