Burks Named Naismith Trophy Midseason Top 30 List

ATLANTA - University of Colorado sophomore guard Alec Burks was named to the 2010-11 Naismith midseason top 30 men's basketball list, announced Friday by The Atlanta Tipoff Club.

The 6'5 guard from Grandview, Mo. is one of four Big 12 players named to the list and he currently leads the conference (only) in scoring at 21.4 points per game. Burks also ranks 20^th nationally in scoring at 20 points per game and in 70^th in free throw percentage (84.3).

Last Wednesday, Burks became the 27th player in school history to score 1,000 points (1,012) in only his 55^th career game. He has led the Buffs in scoring seven-straight games, which is a CU-best for consecutive scoring games over the 15 years of Big 12 play.

Burks, who was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year a year ago, has led the Buffaloes in scoring 17 times this season with 15 scoring efforts of 20 points or more. Seven of his 10 Big 12 Conference games have been by 20 points or more.

After three months of phenomenal college basketball play, several players are distinguishing themselves as reflected in the list. The midseason 30 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the 2010-11 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy, presented by AT&T, will be awarded at the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four in Houston.

"These players have shown incredible skill and heart," said Eric Oberman, Atlanta Tipoff Club executive director. "They are elevating the game of basketball and making the race for this year's prestigious Naismith Trophy one of the most exciting in years."

Since 2005, presenting sponsor AT&T has set the standard in allowing fans to participate in determining the trophy winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging^**, fan voting will account for 25 percent of all of the final results - more than any other national college basketball award.

Beginning this month, CBS' coverage of college basketball will include the "AT&T at the Half" segment featuring a "Naismith Watch" update highlighting the players in contention for the award.

"AT&T is proud to support the 2011 Men's Naismith Trophy, an award which is sure to be the most notable athletic recognition in these student-athletes' lives," said Jamie Kerr, senior manager, AT&T National Sponsorships. "We're also happy to offer these avid college basketball fans the chance to vote for the player who most deserves this prestigious honor."

2010-11 Naismith Trophy Midseason 30

Name	School	Position	Class
Alec Burks	Colorado	Guard	Sophomore
Malcolm Delaney	Virginia Tech	Guard	Senior
Marcus Denmon	Missouri	Guard	Junior
Kenneth Faried	Morehead State	Forward/Center	Senior
Jimmer Fredette	BYU	Guard	Senior
Austin Freeman	Georgetown	Guard	Senior
Jordan Hamilton	Texas	Guard/Forward	Sophomore
Ben Hansbrough	Notre Dame	Guard	Senior
Tu Holloway	Xavier	Guard	Junior
Rick Jackson	Syracuse	Forward	Senior
Charles Jenkins	Hofstra	Guard	Senior
JaJuan Johnson	Purdue	Forward/Center	Senior
Terrence Jones	Kentucky	Forward	Freshman
Kawhi Leonard	San Diego State	Forward	Sophomore
Jon Leuer	Wisconsin	Forward	Senior
Demetri McCamey	Illinois	Guard	Senior
Mickey McConnell	Saint Mary's	Guard	Senior
E'Twaun Moore	Purdue	Guard	Senior
Marcus Morris	Kansas	Forward	Junior
Kyle Singler	Duke	Forward	Senior
Chris Singleton	Florida State	Forward	Junior
Nolan Smith	Duke	Guard	Senior
Jared Sullinger	Ohio State	Forward/Center	Freshman
Isaiah Thomas	Washington	Guard	Junior
Trey Thompkins	Georgia	Forward/Center	Junior
Klay Thompson	Washington State	Guard	Junior
Kemba Walker	Connecticut	Guard	Junior
Brad Wanamaker	Pittsburgh	Guard	Senior
Derrick Williams	Arizona	Forward	Sophomore
Jordan Williams	Maryland	Forward	Sophomore

Notable former Naismith Men's College Player of the Year winners include Bill Walton, Johnny Dawkins, Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant and last year's recipient Evan Turner. The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to college basketball's player of the year.

For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.

^{*AT&T products and
services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of
AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T
Inc.}

^{** Standard messaging
and data rates apply.}

^{AT&T, the
AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks
of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated
companies.}

ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, an Atlanta Sports Council property, is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club, founded during the 1956-57 season, has presented the Naismith Trophy every year since UCLA's Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. Old Dominion's Anne Donovan won the inaugural Women's Naismith Trophy in 1983.

The Naismith Award has become the most prestigious award in all of college basketball, recognizing the Men's and Women's College Basketball Player of the Year, Men's and Women's College Basketball Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and contribution to the game.

Colorado University Athletics