Seniors and guards are leading the charge for college basketball's best player midway through the season, according to a new watch list released by the John R. Wooden Award's advisory board.
The Wooden Award released its midseason top 25 list on Thursday, which included 17 upperclassmen, 15 backcourt players and representatives from nine conferences. The Wooden Award has been presented annually since 1976 to the most outstanding player in college basketball.
Oklahoma's Trae Young, who wasn't on a preseason watch list of 50 potential candidates, is now considered by many to be a favorite for the award, after starting his college career by leading the nation in points (29.