University of Arizona Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz. ?- University of Arizona men’s basketball players Mustafa Shakur and Marcus Williams were named as preseason candidates for the 2006-07 Naismith Trophy Presented by Cingular Wireless, it was announced Tuesday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

The Wildcat duo is included among a list of 50 student-athletes who are under consideration for the 2007 Naismith Trophy, which is given annually to college basketball’s player of the year.  Arizona is one of nine schools nationally to have two or more nominees make the list.  All told, five Pac-10 players are honored.

Shakur, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior guard from Philadelphia, is averaging 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game through three games this season.  He has connected on 40.9 percent of his field goal attempts and leads the Wildcats with seven steals.  His best game to date came on Nov. 15 vs. Northern Arizona, where Shakur tallied 20 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.  It is the first time that Shakur has been included on the Naismith Trophy watch list.

Williams, a 6-foot-7, 205-pound sophomore forward from Seattle, is averaging 14.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists through three games this season.  He’s connected on 48.8 percent of his field goal attempts and ranks second on the team with three blocked shots.  His best game to date came on Nov. 19 against New Mexico State, where Williams posted 20 points, seven rebounds and two assists..  It marks the first time Williams has been included on the preseason Naismith Trophy list.

Created in 1969, the Naismith Trophy is one of the most prestigious honors in college basketball.  It is given annually to the nation’s top college basketball player.

In January, the Naismith Trophy Voting Academy will narrow this list to the top 30.  The award’s final ballot will be released in March.  The winner will be recognized at the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Atlanta.

Shakur, Williams and the rest of the 2006-07 Wildcats host Samford tonight, Nov. 22.  The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. MST and can be seen on FSN Arizona.

The preseason candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows: