Los Angeles, CA – Hofstra University junior forward Shante Evans was named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 list, it was announced today by The Los Angeles Athletic Club.
The midseason list includes 20 student-athletes who, based on their performances in November, December and January, are the frontrunners for college basketball's most prestigious honor.
Evans currently leads Hofstra (14-5, 6-2 CAA) in scoring and rebounding with averages of 18.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. She has started all 19 games for the Pride, while playing 29.8 minutes per game. She has also added 22 steals and a team-best 18 blocks.
One of the top players to ever suit up for the Pride, Evans has career totals of 1,370 points and 859 rebounds. She ranks 10th all-time at Hofstra in scoring and sixth in rebounding.
Earlier this season Evans was named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List as well. She is the program's first-ever Naismith and Wooden Award nominee. In addition, Evans became the first Hofstra women's basketball player to earn Associated Press Honorable Mention accolades when she garnered that honors following her sophomore campaign.
The 36th annual Wooden Award Gala, will take place on Friday, April 6, 2012, and will honor winners, All Americans and the Legends of Coaching winner Geno Auriemma of Connecticut.
About the John R. Wooden Award
Created in 1976 and named after the Hall of Fame player, coach and teacher, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird ('79), Michael Jordan ('84), Tim Duncan ('97), Blake Griffin ('09) and Maya Moore of Connecticut ('09 and '11). BYU's Jimmer Fredette and Moore were the Wooden Award winners in 2011.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed close to a million dollars to universities' general scholarship fund in the names of the All American recipients. The Award has also sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps in the Award's name. Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long tournament, which brings together Special Olympic athletes and the All Americans, takes place at The Los Angeles Athletic Club the weekend of the John R. Wooden Award Gala.
Follow the candidates and get the latest news throughout the season by logging on to www.WoodenAward.com. For more information on the John R. Wooden Award, please contact the Wooden Award staff at 213-630-5231 or email at woodenaward@laac.net.
