USBWA National Freshman of the Year

Last updated
USBWA National
Freshman of the Year
Usbwa color.jpg
Awarded forthe most outstanding freshman male and female college basketball players
CountryUnited States
Presented by United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA)
History
First award1989 (men)
1992 (women)
Most recent Cooper Flagg, Duke (men)
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt (women)
Website Official website

The USBWA National Freshman of the Year is an annual basketball honor given to college basketball's most outstanding freshman male player and female player by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), an association of college basketball journalists. Since 2011 the men's award has been called the Wayman Tisdale Award [1] while the women's award has been called the Tamika Catchings Award since 2020. [2] The award was first given following the 1988–89 season for men and 1991–92 for women. [3] [4]

Contents

There has never been a tie for the men's award, but there have been two for the women, with Tasha Humphrey (Georgia) and Candice Wiggins (Stanford) sharing the 2004–05 award, and Paige Bueckers (UConn) and Caitlin Clark (Iowa) sharing honors in 2020–21. [5] [6] Five players have been named a national player of the year by receiving one of the major awards for either men or women [a] in the same season as being named the USBWA Freshman of the Year. Among men's players, Kevin Durant (Texas) was the first in 2007, followed by Anthony Davis (Kentucky) in 2012, Zion Williamson (Duke) in 2019, and Cooper Flagg (also of Duke) in 2025. The first woman to receive both honors was Bueckers in 2021.

On July 26, 2010, the USBWA announced that they would rename the men's National Freshman of the Year award after the late Wayman Tisdale, who in 1983 was named a first-team All-American as a freshman at Oklahoma. [1] The women's award was officially named in honor of Tamika Catchings on October 17, 2019. [2] As a freshman at Tennessee in 1997–98, she averaged 18.2 points for the undefeated national champion Lady Volunteers. [2] Catchings went on to be named a three-time USBWA All-American and the organization's national player of the year in 2000. [2]

Key

†Co-National Freshman of the Year
    *    Awarded a national player of the year award as a freshman:
Men – Sporting News ; Oscar Robertson Trophy; Associated Press; NABC; UPI; Naismith; Wooden; Adolph Rupp Trophy; Helms
Women – Associated Press; Naismith; Wooden; WBCA

Winners

Mahmoud abdul-rauf cropped.jpg
Chris Jackson [b] , LSU, 1989
Katie Smith at a Minnesota Lynx press conference (cropped).jpg
Katie Smith, Ohio State, 1993
Shea Ralph UConn.jpg
Shea Ralph, UConn, 1997
Deng2-20190120 (cropped).jpg
Luol Deng, Duke, 2004
Marvin Williams, 2012 (cropped).jpg
Marvin Williams, North Carolina, 2005
Shekinna Stricklen (cropped).jpg
Shekinna Stricklen, Tennessee, 2009
Rhyne Howard.jpg
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky, 2019
Jabari Smith Jr.jpg
Jabari Smith, Auburn, 2022
Brandon Miller Alabama (cropped).jpg
Brandon Miller, Alabama, 2023
Mikayla Blakes.jpg
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt, 2025
Men
SeasonPlayerSchoolPositionReference
1988–89 Chris Jackson [b] LSU PG [3]
1989–90 Kenny Anderson Georgia Tech PG [6]
1990–91 Rodney Rogers Wake Forest PF [7]
1991–92 Chris Webber Michigan C [8]
1992–93 Jason Kidd California PG [9]
1993–94 Joe Smith Maryland PF / C [10]
1994–95 No award [c]
1995–96
1996–97
1997–98 Larry Hughes Saint Louis SG [11]
1998–99 Quentin Richardson DePaul SF / SG [12]
1999–00 Jason Gardner Arizona PG [13]
2000–01 Eddie Griffin Seton Hall C [14]
2001–02 T. J. Ford Texas PG [15]
2002–03 Carmelo Anthony Syracuse SF [16]
2003–04 Luol Deng Duke SF [6]
2004–05 Marvin Williams North Carolina PF [7]
2005–06 Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina PF / C [17]
2006–07 Kevin Durant * Texas SF [18]
2007–08 Michael Beasley Kansas State PF [19]
2008–09 Tyreke Evans Memphis PG [20]
2009–10 John Wall Kentucky PG [21]
2010–11 Jared Sullinger Ohio State PF [1]
2011–12 Anthony Davis * Kentucky C [22]
2012–13 Marcus Smart Oklahoma State PG [23]
2013–14 Jabari Parker Duke SF [24]
2014–15 Jahlil Okafor Duke C [25]
2015–16 Ben Simmons LSU PG [26]
2016–17 Lonzo Ball UCLA PG [27]
2017–18 Trae Young Oklahoma PG [28]
2018–19 Zion Williamson * Duke PF [29]
2019–20 Vernon Carey Jr. Duke C [7]
2020–21 Cade Cunningham Oklahoma State PG [30]
2021–22 Jabari Smith Auburn PF [7]
2022–23 Brandon Miller Alabama SF [31]
2023–24 Reed Sheppard Kentucky SG / PG [32]
2024–25 Cooper Flagg * Duke SG / SF [33]
Women
SeasonPlayerSchoolPositionReference
1988–89No award [5]
1989–90
1990–91
1991–92 Niesa Johnson Alabama G [4]
1992–93 Katie Smith Ohio State SG / SF [34]
1993–94 Leslie Johnson Purdue F / C [35]
1994–95 Korie Hlede Duquesne SG [36]
1995–96 Chamique Holdsclaw Tennesse SF [37]
1996–97 Shea Ralph UConn PG [38]
1997–98 Tamika Catchings Tennessee SF [39]
1998–99 Linda Fröhlich UNLV C [40]
1999–00 LaToya Thomas Mississippi State F [41]
2000–01 Alana Beard Duke SG / SF [42]
2001–02 Jacqueline Batteast Notre Dame F [43]
2002–03 Seimone Augustus LSU SF [44]
2003–04 Tiffany Jackson Texas F [45]
2004–05† Tasha Humphrey Georgia C [46]
Candice Wiggins Stanford PG / SG [46]
2005–06 Courtney Paris Oklahoma C [47]
2006–07 Tina Charles UConn C [48]
2007–08 Maya Moore UConn PF [49]
2008–09 Shekinna Stricklen Tennessee SF / G [50]
2009–10 Brittney Griner Baylor C [51]
2010–11 Odyssey Sims Baylor PG [52]
2011–12 Elizabeth Williams Duke C / PF [53]
2012–13 Jewell Loyd Notre Dame PG / SG [54]
2013–14 Diamond DeShields North Carolina SG [55]
2014–15 Kelsey Mitchell Ohio State PG / SG [56]
2015–16 Kristine Anigwe California C / PF [57]
2016–17 Sabrina Ionescu Oregon PG [58]
2017–18 Chennedy Carter Texas A&M PG [59]
2018–19 Rhyne Howard Kentucky SG [60]
2019–20 Aliyah Boston South Carolina PF / C [61]
2020–21 † Paige Bueckers * UConn PG [62]
Caitlin Clark Iowa PG [62]
2021–22 Aneesah Morrow DePaul F [5]
2022–23 Ta'Niya Latson Florida State G [63]
2023–24 JuJu Watkins USC SG [64]
2024–25 Mikayla Blakes Vanderbilt SG [65]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Carlson, Jenni (March 16, 2011). "Jared Sullinger wins first honor". The Oklahoman . Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. 61. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "USBWA names top freshman award after Catchings". The Mountain Press. Sevierville, Tennessee. October 18, 2019. p. A10. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "LSU's Jackson Named USBWA All-American". Macon Chronicle-Herald . Macon, Missouri. March 14, 1989. p. 2. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 Welch, Chris (November 11, 1992). "Tide has high hopes with Johnson, 'Yo'". The Huntsville Times . Huntsville, Alabama. p. 30. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "USBWA Tamika Catchings Award". sportswriters.net. Zionsville, Indiana: USBWA. 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "USBWA Wayman Tisdale Award". sportswriters.net. Zionsville, Indiana: USBWA. 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Men's USBWA Freshman of the Year Winners". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ Kram, Mark (March 19, 1992). "Seasoned: No first-year jitters for 'Fab Five' as Michigan opens play vs. Owls". Philadelphia Daily News . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 78. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Chapin, Dwight (October 28, 1993). "It's time to step up, Kidd". San Francisco Examiner . San Francisco, California. p. 61. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Stratton, Bob (March 17, 1994). "Extraordinary Joe". The Wichita Eagle . Wichita, Kansas. p. 49. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Eisenbath, Mike (April 4, 1998). "SLU's Hughes is honored as nation's top freshman – again". St. Louis Post-Dispatch . St. Louis, Missouri. p. 15. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ ""Q" honored again". Northwest Herald . Crystal Lake, Illinois. March 26, 1999. p. 14. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Pascoe, Bruce (March 14, 2000). "Gardner gains another honor in first season". Arizona Daily Star . Tucson, Arizona. p. 25. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Sullivan, Tara (April 4, 2001). "Griffin leaves school to enter NBA draft". The Record . Woodland Park, New Jersey. p. 27. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Riggs, Randy (April 3, 2002). "UT's Ford first freshman to win national assists title". Austin American-Statesman . Austin, Texas. p. 49. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Bedore, Gary (April 7, 2003). "BIG Monday". Salina Journal . Salina, Kansas. p. 11. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Tysiac, Ken (June 21, 2006). "Williams plans to give Hansbrough a break". The Charlotte Observer . Charlotte, North Carolina. p. C6. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Longhorns' Durant to enter NBA draft; projected as a top-two pick". National Post . Toronto, Canada. April 11, 2007. p. 68. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Beasley adds range to power forward slot". Brainerd Dispatch . Brainerd, Minnesota. June 23, 2008. p. 17. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Evans top frosh". Hattiesburg American . Hattiesburg, Mississippi. April 1, 2009. p. 11. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Dawson, Brett (March 23, 2010). "Wall named Freshman of Year by writers". Courier Journal . Louisville, Kentucky. p. C6. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ Latzke, Jeff (April 17, 2012). "Davis mum about NBA plans". Tulsa World . Tulsa, Oklahoma. p. 16. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Smart wins Tisdale Award". Tulsa World. Tulsa, Oklahoma. March 14, 2013. p. 26. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Parker wins Tisdale Award". The News & Observer . Raleigh, North Carolina. March 18, 2014. p. C5. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Tisdale Award". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. March 18, 2015. p. 28. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "LSU's Ben Simmons tops 2016 NBA Draft". Abbeville Meridional. Abbeville, Louisiana. June 26, 2016. p. 8. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ Bolch, Ben (March 17, 2017). "Ball is the college freshman of the year". Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. p. D4. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Sooners' Young wins Tisdale Award". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. March 7, 2018. p. B05. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Zion Williamson: Honors". The Roanoke Times . Roanoke, Virginia. March 28, 2019. p. C4. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ Unruh, Jacob (March 24, 2021). "Cowboys' star nets Tisdale Award". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. B1. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ Zillgitt, Jeff; Schnell, Lindsay; Henderson, Cydney (June 22, 2023). "NBA mock draft features deep field, lots of guards". South Bend Tribune . South Bend, Indiana. p. B4. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ Taylor, Keith (March 23, 2024). "Sheppard wins prestigious Tisdale freshman of year award". The Winchester Sun. Winchester, Kentucky. p. A9. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ "Flagg wins double honor". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. March 26, 2025. p. C3. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ Katz, Marc (April 5, 1993). "Freshman update". Dayton Daily News . Dayton, Ohio. p. 11. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ Carmin, Mike (April 7, 1994). "Boilers find room for improvement". Journal & Courier . Lafayette, Indiana. p. 15. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  36. ↑ "Lobo named player of year". The Montana Standard . Butte, Montana. March 15, 1995. p. 8. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com. Korie Hlede of Duquesne was named national freshman of the year.
  37. ↑ Patrick, Dick (April 2, 1996). "Holdsclaw ends first season on right foot". USA Today . New York, New York. p. 12. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ "Ralph will miss season". The Bulletin . Norwich, Connecticut. September 4, 1997. p. 17. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ Kent, Milton (March 30, 1998). "Lady Vols hit the three, routing La. Tech, 93–75". The Baltimore Sun . Baltimore, Maryland. p. 85. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  40. ↑ "Lady Flames to face UNLV in Bahamas". The News & Advance . Lynchburg, Virginia. December 20, 1999. p. 14. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  41. ↑ "Whaley honored". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. March 24, 2000. p. 142. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  42. ↑ "Beard to shadow Stiles". The Herald-Sun . Durham, North Carolina. March 24, 2001. p. 45. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  43. ↑ Miller, Forrest (April 8, 2002). "Freshman Batteast's excellence moves to national stage". South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. p. 86. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  44. ↑ "National writers pass honors along to Taurasi, Auriemma". The Day . New London, Connecticut. March 15, 2003. p. 25. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  45. ↑ "Ohlde earns USBWA honor". Salina Journal. Salina, Kansas. April 2, 2004. p. 17. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  46. 1 2 "Humphrey garners national freshman honor". The Gainesville Times . Gainesville, Georgia. March 17, 2005. p. 13. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com. Humphrey shared the honor with Candice Wiggins of Stanford.
  47. ↑ "OU's Paris named freshman of the year". Sapulpa Herald . Kiefer, Oklahoma. April 2, 2006. p. 11. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  48. ↑ "Parker Honors". Knoxville News Sentinel . Knoxville, Tennessee. March 30, 2007. p. 32. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  49. ↑ "Auriemma, Moore Honored By USBWA". Hartford Courant . Hartford, Connecticut. April 4, 2008. p. C03. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  50. ↑ Fleser, Dan (April 2, 2009). "Stricklen named national freshman of year". Knoxville News Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. 22. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  51. ↑ "Baylor: Stockpile of talent has Bears hungry for more". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Fort Worth, Texas. April 4, 2010. p. A12. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  52. ↑ Cherry, Brice (April 4, 2011). "BU's Sims makes final cut for USA trip to China". Waco Tribune-Herald . Waco, Texas. p. 13. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  53. ↑ "Duke's Williams named nation's top freshman". The Herald-Sun. Durham, North Carolina. March 29, 2012. p. C2. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  54. ↑ "Freshman of the Year". South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. April 5, 2013. p. B5. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  55. ↑ Carter, Andrew (April 18, 2014). "Freshman of the year DeShields to leave UNC". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. B2. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  56. ↑ Cloninger, David (June 16, 2015). "Staley will start eighth season against Ohio State". The Herald . Rock Hill, South Carolina. p. B4. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  57. ↑ "Cal's Anigwe honored". Oakland Tribune . Oakland, California. June 16, 2015. p. 27. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  58. ↑ Fulkerson, Vickie (April 1, 2017). "Ditto". The Day. New London, Connecticut. p. B3. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  59. ↑ Fulkerson, Vickie (March 31, 2018). "And more". The Day. New London, Connecticut. p. 11. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  60. ↑ "Rhyne Howard Named USBWA National Freshman of the Year". The Advocate-Messenger . Danville, Kentucky. April 6, 2018. p. B3. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  61. ↑ Hadley, Greg (March 26, 2020). "South Carolina coach, freshman earn national honors". Anderson Independent-Mail . Anderson, South Carolina. p. B1. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  62. 1 2 Vann, Leah (July 4, 2021). "Ladies, the time is now". The Gazette . Cedar Rapids, Iowa. p. P1. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  63. ↑ Monkarsh, Julia (April 3, 2023). "Lady 'Noles showered with recognitions". Tallahassee Democrat . Tallahassee, Florida. p. U20. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  64. ↑ "Former Stanford standout Iriafen transferring to USC". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. April 29, 2024. p. D007. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  65. ↑ Morris, Alaina (July 28, 2025). "Standout Blakes is having an offseason to remember". The Tennessean . Nashville, Tennessee. p. B1. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  66. ↑ Vanoni, Maggie (November 12, 2024). "UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers named to 2025 Wade Trophy watch list". Greenwich Time . Greenwich, Connecticut: Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  67. ↑ Latimer, Clay (August 10, 1991). "Friends upset over Jackson's switch to Islam". Press-Register . Mobile, Alabama. p. 30. Retrieved August 27, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
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