Naismith Award

Here’s the release from UConn Athletic Communications Department announcing that Andre Drummond, Jeremy Lamb and Alex Oriakhi have been named to the 2011-12 Naismith Preseason Watch List.

STORRS, Conn. – UConn sophomore Jeremy Lamb (Norcross, Ga.) headlines a trio of UConn players named to the Naismith preseason watch list, as announced today by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Lamb is joined by junior Alex Oriakhi (Lowell, Mass.) and freshman center Andre Drummond (Middletown, Conn.).

The Naismith award is presented annually to the national player of the year. Former UConn star Kemba Walker was a finalist in 2011 with Jimmer Fredette of BYU taking home the honor.

Kentucky and North Carolina led the way with four student-athletes each on the list.

Lamb was most recently named an Associate Press Preseason All-American after being named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team and the Wooden Preseason Top-50. Oriakhi joined Lamb on the Wooden Preseason Top-50 and also received votes in the Preseason All-America voting. He was a Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team selection.

Drummond, the BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year, was also a BIG EAST Honorable Mention selection. The freshman center was most recently named to the Wayman Tisdale Award preseason watch list which honors the nation’s top freshman at the end of the season.

UConn opens the regular season against Columbia on ESPNU at 7 p.m. in Gampel Pavilion on Friday, November 11. The Huskies will unveil the 2011 NCAA Championship banner in front of the home fans prior to the game.

To see the full 2011-12 Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

2011-12 Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List
Name School Class Position
Tim Abromaitis Notre Dame GS F
Harrison  Barnes North Carolina So F
Will Barton Memphis So G
Bradley Beal Florida Fr G
William Buford Ohio State Sr G
Aaron Craft Ohio State So G
Anthony Davis Kentucky Fr F
Marcus Denmon Missouri Sr G
Andre Drummond Connecticut Fr C
Festus Ezeli Vanderbilt Sr C
Ashton Gibbs Pitt Sr G
Michael Glover Iona Sr F
Drew Gordon New Mexico Sr F
Draymond Green Michigan State Sr F
JaMychal Green Alabama Sr F
Tim Hardaway Jr. Michigan So G
Elias Harris Gonzaga Jr F
John Henson North Carolina Jr F
Tu Holloway Xavier Sr G
Robbie Hummel Purdue Sr F
Joe Jackson Memphis Jr G
John Jenkins Vanderbilt So G
Orlando Johnson UC Santa Barbara Sr G
Darius Johnson-Odom Marquette Sr G
Perry Jones III Baylor So F
Terrence Jones Kentucky So F
Kevin Jones West Virginia Sr F
Kris Joseph Syracuse Sr F
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Kentucky Fr F
Jeremy Lamb Connecticut So G
Kendall Marshall North Carolina So G
Ray McCallum Detroit So G
Doug McDermott Creighton So F
Khris Middleton Texas A&M Jr F
Quincy Miller Baylor Fr F
Reeves Nelson UCLA Jr F
Andrew Nicholson St. Bonaventure Sr F
Alex Oriakhi Connecticut Jr C
Austin Rivers Duke Fr G
Thomas Robinson Kansas Jr F
Terrence Ross Washington So G
John Shurna Northwestern Sr F
Peyton Siva Louisville Jr G
Joshua Smith UCLA So C
Jared Sullinger Ohio State So C
Jordan Taylor Wisconsin Sr G
Jeffery Taylor Vanderbilt Sr G/F
Marquis Teague Kentucky Fr G
Patric Young Florida So F/C
Tyler Zeller North Carolina Sr F