University of Arizona Athletics

Wildcat guard makes preseason list for the first time in his career

TUCSON, Ariz. ?- University of Arizona men’s basketball player Hassan Adams was named to the 2005-06 John R. Wooden Award Preseason All-America team, it was announced Tuesday by the award’s national preseason selection committee.

The Wildcat senior is included among a list of 50 student-athletes who are under consideration for the 2006 John R. Wooden Award, which is given annually to college basketball’s player of the year.

Adams, a 6-foot-4, 212-pound senior guard from Los Angeles, averaged 12.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in 2004-05.  An honorable mention all-Pac-10 pick a year ago, Adams ranked second in the conference in steals per game (1.9 spg) and fifth in rebounding.  Adams shot .491 from the floor (198-of-403) and .714 (60-of-84) from the free throw line.  He also tallied career highs in rebounds (222), assists (104) and steals (69) in 37 games last year.  Adams heads into his senior campaign as the Pac-10’s active career leader in scoring (1,275 points), rebounds (551) and steals (156).  It marks the first time Adams has been included on the preseason Wooden Award Top 50 list.

Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is one of the most prestigious honors in college basketball.  It is bestowed upon the nation’s best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his university that he is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA.

In mid-January, the Wooden Award committee will release the midseason top 30.  The 10-player John R. Wooden Award All-America team will be announced on Tuesday, March 28.

The 2006 Award ceremony, which will include the presentation of the Men’s and Women’s Wooden Award, the Wooden Award All-American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award, will be held at The Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 8, 2006 and will be broadcast live on CBS-TV.

Adams is one of 11 returning squadmen from last season’s 30-7 club that advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Chicago Regional final.