WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Jaden Ivey and Trevion Williams have been named to the Wooden Award Top 50 watch list, announced today on Sportscenter and ESPN.com(.)
Ivey, a 6-foot, 4-inch sophomore guard from South Bend, Indiana, had an outstanding freshman campaign, being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team after averaging 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. However, over the last six contests a year ago, Ivey averaged 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 37-of-79 (.468) from the field in that span. He scored 26 points against North Texas, the second-most ever by a Big Ten freshman in an NCAA Tournament debut.
Ivey then excelled this past summer on the international scene, being named to the FIBA U19 World Cup All-Star 5 Team after leading Team USA to the Gold Medal and averaging 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks in just 16.5 minutes per game. Ivey played a major role in the Gold Medal game against France, sparking an American comeback in the second half.
Williams, a 6-foot, 10-inch senior forward from Chicago, was named to the list after being a first-team All-Big Ten selection and being one of five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award given to the nation's top center after averaging 15.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game a year ago. He owned 11 double-doubles and his six 20-10 games were the third-most nationally for a major-college player. He also became just the ninth Big Ten player in the last 30 years to average at least 15 points, nine rebounds and two assists per game and was one of six players nationally a year ago to reach those marks.
Williams enters the season with 967 career points, 630 rebounds and 126 assists, being one of three active players to have at least 950 points, 625 rebounds and 125 assists.
Ivey and Williams have been named to almost every preseason All-Big Ten and All-American list.
No. 7-ranked Purdue opens its regular season tonight when it hosts Bellarmine at Mackey Arena, at 7 p.m. ET.
Ivey, a 6-foot, 4-inch sophomore guard from South Bend, Indiana, had an outstanding freshman campaign, being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team after averaging 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. However, over the last six contests a year ago, Ivey averaged 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 37-of-79 (.468) from the field in that span. He scored 26 points against North Texas, the second-most ever by a Big Ten freshman in an NCAA Tournament debut.
Ivey then excelled this past summer on the international scene, being named to the FIBA U19 World Cup All-Star 5 Team after leading Team USA to the Gold Medal and averaging 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks in just 16.5 minutes per game. Ivey played a major role in the Gold Medal game against France, sparking an American comeback in the second half.
Williams, a 6-foot, 10-inch senior forward from Chicago, was named to the list after being a first-team All-Big Ten selection and being one of five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award given to the nation's top center after averaging 15.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game a year ago. He owned 11 double-doubles and his six 20-10 games were the third-most nationally for a major-college player. He also became just the ninth Big Ten player in the last 30 years to average at least 15 points, nine rebounds and two assists per game and was one of six players nationally a year ago to reach those marks.
Williams enters the season with 967 career points, 630 rebounds and 126 assists, being one of three active players to have at least 950 points, 625 rebounds and 125 assists.
Ivey and Williams have been named to almost every preseason All-Big Ten and All-American list.
No. 7-ranked Purdue opens its regular season tonight when it hosts Bellarmine at Mackey Arena, at 7 p.m. ET.