MANHATTAN, Kan. – Seniors Keyontae Johnson And Markquis Nowell were among 20 shortlisted candidates to the season-ending Watch List for the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s on Monday night (January 30), as announced by ESPN and the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Johnson and Nowell, along with Penn State Jalen Pickett, made their Wooden Watch List debut, while the duo are only candidates from the same school. The list also includes North Carolina Armando BacottoDetroit Mercy’s Anthony DavisMemphis Kendric DavisPurdue’s Zach Edeyof the Duke Kyle Filipowskiof Indiana Trayce Jackson Davisof UCLA Jaime Jaquez, Jr., TCU Mike Miles, Jr.of Alabama Brandon Millerof Iowa Chris Murrayof Houston Marco SasserNC status Terquavius SmithGonzaga Draw Timmeof Kentucky Oscar Tshiebweof Arizona Azuolas TubelisKansas’ Jalen Wilson and of Miami Isaiah Wong. Both Johnson and Nowell were recently named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy midseason watch list by the US Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) on January 19. Voting for 2023 John R. Wooden Award and 2023 All-American Team Wooden Award to open prior to NCAA Tournament with All-American Team announced during Elite Eight Round and Player of the Year Award announced after NCAA Championship in April. Johnson and Nowell were one of the most prolific tandems in the country, as they combined averaging 34.9 points per game on 47.1% (236-of-501) shooting, including 38.7% (72-of-186) shooting 3-point range and 80.8 percent (189 of 234) from the free throw line. They combined for 13 games of 20 or more points, including a collective 120 points in their 2 wins at No. 6/6 Texas and at no. 19/16 Baylor during the week of January 3-7. It was the most combined points by 2 players in 2 games in the last 50 seasons, surpassing the 113 scored by Askia Jones And Anthony Bean between March 24-28, 1994. A 5-foot-8, 160-pound point guard from Harlem, NY, Nowell averages 16.9 points on 40.8 percent (100 of 245) from the field, including 38, 9 percent (49-of-126) from 3-point range and 86.8 percent (105-of-121) from the free throw line to go along with 12-best 8.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 35 ,7 minutes per game. He is one of only two active Division I players to total more than 1,500 points, 500 assists and 200 steals in his career. Nowell is in the top 3 nationally in assists/game (8.2 assists/2nd) and total assists (173/3rd), while he is in the top 35 in 4 other categories, including 14th in steals/game (2.3 points/game). ), 15th in total steals (49), 18th in free throws made (105), and 32nd in assists-to-turnover ratio (2.66). He has six games of 10 or more assists this season, while having five double-doubles (points/assists), including the school’s first 30-10 double-double with 32 points and 14 assists in a win over #19/16 Baylor on Jan. 7 . He has since become the first Wildcat to post consecutive 30-point games Michael Besley in 2008 with his 36 and 32 points at No. 6/6 Texas and No. 19/16 Baylor. A 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward from Norfolk, Va., Johnson is averaging a team-best 18 points on 53.1% (136-of-256) from the field, including 38.3% (23-of-256). 60) from 3-point range and 74.3 percent (84-of-113) from the free throw line, to go with 7.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.7 minutes per game. He ranks in the top 10 in 6 categories in the Big 12, while he and Kansas’ Jalen Wilson they are the only players in the conference to rank in the top 5 in both scoring and rebounding in both overall and Big 12 games. 7/6 K-State (18-3, 6-2) is back in action Tuesday night when he travels to Lawrence, Kan., to face the no. 12) in the Dillon Sunflower Showdown at 7 p.m., CT on Big 12 Now.
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