Past 30 John Wooden Award winners

Leading the Wisconsin Badgers all the way the National Title Game, Frank Kaminsky was college basketball’s best player in 2015. Behind 18.8 points and eight rebounds per game, Kaminsky won the John R. Wooden Award. “Frank the Tank” now plays for the Charlotte Hornets.

2014 was a rare year in which a player from a mid-major team won the Wooden Award. Creighton University sharpshooter Doug McDermott won the award, as he averaged 26.6 points per game and shot nearly 45 percent from beyond the arc. McDermott currently plays for the Chicago Bulls.

Although his NBA career has been somewhat of a disappointment, Trey Burke was a deserving winner of the Wooden Award in 2013. Burke was the leader of a Michigan basketball team that made it all the way to the Final Four, and the point guard averaged 18. 6 points and seven assists a night in the process.

One of the best players in the NBA, it was clear Anthony Davis was going to be a star from his very first game with the Kentucky Wildcats. In his lone season at Kentucky, Davis dominated college basketball, as he averaged a double-double and led the Wildcats to a National Championship. For his efforts, Davis was given the Wooden Award.

Although he hasn’t been nearly as successful in the NBA, there was no doubting the phenomena that was “Jimmermania” in 2011. BYU shooting guard Jimmer Fredette lit up the nation to the tune of 28.9 points per game for the Cougars and won the Wooden Award for his fantastic efforts.

Ohio State small forward Evan Turner did a little bit of everything for the Buckeyes during the 2009-10 college basketball season. Turner averaged 20 points, nine rebounds, six assists and shot better than 50 percent from the field on his way to winning the Wooden Award that season. Turner now plays the for Boston Celtics.

Highlighted by is his monster dunks, Oklahoma power forward Blake Griffin was named the John Wooden player of the year in 2009. Griffin averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds for the Sooners that season and went on to become the No. 1 overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. After missing his rookie season due to a knee injury, Griffin quickly developed into one most lethal power forwards in NBA.

Former North Carolina power forward Tyler Hansbrough was an absolute beast during his time playing for Roy Williams. Not only did Hansbrough lead the Tar Heels to a National Championship in 2008, but he was also able to nab the Wooden Award on the way for his play on the court. Hansbrough currently plays for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA.

Do you think the Portland Trail Blazers regret not taking Kevin Durant with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft? Durant was coming off a season with the Texas Longhorns in which he averaged 26 points and 11 rebounds per game, numbers that were good enough to earn the freshman the Wooden Award. Durant has gone on to become an MVP player in the NBA for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

One of the best shooters on the planet, J.J. Redick won the John R. Wooden Award for his play in 2006 with the Duke Blue Devils. Redick averaged 26.8 points per game and shot over 42 percent from beyond the arc for Mike Krzyzewski’s squad. Redick is now a key player in the NBA for the Clippers and still one of the best shooters in the world.

Although injuries have hampered his individual achievements in the NBA, there was no doubt that former Utah center Andrew Bogut was the best player in college basketball in 2005. Bogut averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds for a Utah Utes team that made an NCAA Tournament appearance with the seven-foot Australian leading the way.

Former Saint Joseph’s point guard Jameer Nelson was named the John R.Wooden player of the year in 2004. Nelson led a Saint Joseph’s basketball team to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament behind 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game. Nelson has gone on to become an All-Star point guard in the NBA.

Texas Longhorns point guard T.J. Ford was easily the best player in college basketball in 2003. Ford was a true floor general, averaging 15 points and nearly eight assists a night for the Longhorns that season. Sadly, injuries ended Ford’s NBA career prematurely.

Jay Williams was a captivating star during his time at Duke. The point guard not only won a National Title with the Blue Devils, but was also able to win the Wooden Award for his play during the 2001-02 season. Williams averaged 21 points and five assists that year for head coach Mike Krzyzewski and was the second overall pick in that year’s NBA Draft. Unfortunately, a motorcycle accident essentially ended Williams’ NBA career just a year later.

Shane Battier embodied what it meant to play basketball at Duke. Fundamentally sound, a fantastic defender, a high basketball IQ, Battier was the Ultimate “Duke” player if there ever was one. Scoring nearly 20 points per game, Battier was won the Wooden Award in 2001, as the Blue Devils won the National Title.

No disrespect to Kenyon Martin, but the 1999-00 season in college basketball didn’t exactly showcase the greatest talent ever. Still, the Cincinnati Bearcats forward won the Wooden Award that year, as he averaged 18.9 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game. Martin would go on to play 15 years in the NBA.

Elton Brand was a dominant force in the paint during his playing days at Duke. Brand nearly averaged a double-double during the 1998-99 season and was given the Wooden Award for his efforts. Brand would go on to become two-time All-Star in the NBA.

A true four, former North Carolina Tar Heel Antawn Jamison won the Wooden Award in 1998. Jamison averaged 22-10 for a Tar Heels team that made it all the way to that year’s Final Four. Jamison played 16 seasons in the NBA.

Timmy! One of the greatest basketball players ever to step foot onto the hardwood, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Tim Duncan was an amazing player in college as well. Playing for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Duncan won the Wooden Award in 1997, averaging nearly 21 points and 15 rebounds a night. Duncan has gone on to win five titles in the NBA and is looking to add a sixth ring this season.

UMass center Marcus Camby was college basketball's most dominant player during the 1995-96 season. The seven-footer averaged over 20 points per game on his way to winning that year’s Wooden Award. Camby went on to play 17 seasons in the NBA.

Although he is now in the headlines for winning a lawsuit against the NCAA for using his likeness in a video game, back in 1995, UCLA forward Ed O’Bannon made the news for his play on the court. In addition to winning the Wooden Award, O’Bannon led the Bruins to a National Title that season, the most recent in school history.

There wasn’t a single player in college basketball who was at Glenn Robinson’s level in 1994. The Purdue forward averaged an incredible 30 points and 10 rebounds per night for the Boilermakers. Robinson easily won that year’s Wooden Award and went on to become a two-time All-Star in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The best player on the best regular-season team in the nation, it was fitting that Indiana forward Calbert Cheaney won the Wooden Award in 1993. Cheaney averaged 22 points per game for a Hoosiers team coached by Bob Knight. Unfortunately for Hoosiers fans, Indiana was knocked out of that year’s NCAA Tournament in the Elite Eight.

He’s one of college basketball’s most hated players ever but also one of its best. Former Duke forward Christian Laettner was the leader of a Duke Blue Devils squad that dominated college basketball in the early '90s. Along with winning two National Championships, Laettner was also given the Wooden Award in 1992.

Jerry Tarkanian’s Runnin' Rebels of UNLV were one of the most entertaining college basketball teams to watch over the past 25 years. Those teams were led by forward Larry Johnson, who won the Wooden Award in 1991 as he averaged 22-11 a night. Johnson would go on to play 10 seasons in NBA for the Hornets and Knicks.

La Salle University is hardly known for its basketball program, but in 1990 forward Lionel Simmons put the national spotlight on the Explorers. Simmons led La Salle to the NCAA Tournament, as he averaged 26 points and 11 rebounds that season. Although most Wooden Award winners have gone on to have successful NBA careers, Simmons was out of the NBA by the time he was 28.

Although most basketball fans remember him best for his comeback to the NBA after receiving a kidney transplant, Sean Elliot was also the Wooden Award winner in 1989. Elliot starred for the Arizona Wildcats, scoring 22 points per game while shooting better than 50 percent from the field.

Former Kansas star Danny Manning won the Wooden Award in 1988. The Jawhawks forward averaged 25 points and nine rebounds per game and led the team to a National Championship.

The winner of the 1987 Wooden Award was none other than NBA Hall of Fame player David Robinson. “The Admiral” was a force to be reckoned with at the Naval Academy, as the center put up 28 points and 12 rebounds a night. 

With the departure of Chris Mullin to the NBA, St. John’s forward Walter Berry emerged as the best college player in the country in 1986. With averages of 23 points and 11 rebounds, Berry won the Wooden Award and earned St. John’s a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, Berry and St. John's were upset in the second round of the tourney by Auburn.