Colorado University Athletics
Simpson Named To Wooden Award Late Season Top 20
January 30, 2024 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER – University of Colorado junior guard KJ Simpson is one of 20 late season watch-list members for the 2023-24 John R. Wooden Award the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced on Tuesday.
Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2023-24 season thus far, the list comprises of 20 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor, the Wooden Award All America Team and Most Outstanding Player Award. Simpson made his debut on the Wooden Award Mid-Season Top 25 list earlier this month.
Simpson leads Colorado at 19.2 points, 4.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He is shooting 50.8 percent from the field, 46.8 percent from 3-point range and 89.2 percent from the free throw line. Simpson is one of two players in the country shooting at least 50-45-85 from those three spots (with a minimum five field goals made per game.).
On the Pac-12 Conference charts, Simpson is first in free throw percentage, second in 3-point shooting, third in steals, fourth in scoring and assists, fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0), 14th in defensive boards (4.4 drpg), 15th in overall shooting percentage and 20th in rebounding (5.3 rpg).
Simpson continued his strong play last week averaging 20.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals during the road split in the Pacific Northwest. He flirted with a double-double in the win at Washington, recording 16 points, eight rebounds and matching a personal-best with eight assists. Simpson had a game-high 25 points and eight rebounds, hitting 7 of 11 from the field and 8 of 8 from the line in a losing effort at Washington State.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2024 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year presented by Principal. Players not chosen to the late season list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2024 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Principal following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Colorado, at 15-6 overall and 6-4 in the Pac-12, continues league play at Utah on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 3 p.m. MT (Pac-12 Network & KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM).
For more information, visit www.woodenaward.com
Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2023-24 season thus far, the list comprises of 20 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor, the Wooden Award All America Team and Most Outstanding Player Award. Simpson made his debut on the Wooden Award Mid-Season Top 25 list earlier this month.
Simpson leads Colorado at 19.2 points, 4.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He is shooting 50.8 percent from the field, 46.8 percent from 3-point range and 89.2 percent from the free throw line. Simpson is one of two players in the country shooting at least 50-45-85 from those three spots (with a minimum five field goals made per game.).
On the Pac-12 Conference charts, Simpson is first in free throw percentage, second in 3-point shooting, third in steals, fourth in scoring and assists, fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0), 14th in defensive boards (4.4 drpg), 15th in overall shooting percentage and 20th in rebounding (5.3 rpg).
Simpson continued his strong play last week averaging 20.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals during the road split in the Pacific Northwest. He flirted with a double-double in the win at Washington, recording 16 points, eight rebounds and matching a personal-best with eight assists. Simpson had a game-high 25 points and eight rebounds, hitting 7 of 11 from the field and 8 of 8 from the line in a losing effort at Washington State.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2024 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year presented by Principal. Players not chosen to the late season list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2024 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Principal following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Colorado, at 15-6 overall and 6-4 in the Pac-12, continues league play at Utah on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 3 p.m. MT (Pac-12 Network & KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM).
For more information, visit www.woodenaward.com
Players Mentioned
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