USBWA National Freshman of the Year

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

The USBWA National Freshman of the Year, with the men's and women's versions respectively named the Wayman Tisdale Award and Tamika Catchings Award, is an annual basketball award given to college basketball's most outstanding freshman male player and female player by the United States Basketball Writers Association, an association of college basketball journalists. The award was first given following the 1988–89 season for men, while the 1991–92 season marked the first season for the women's award.

Contents

There has never been a tie for the men's award, but there have been two for the women, with Tasha Humphrey of Georgia and Candice Wiggins of Stanford sharing the 2004–05 award and Paige Bueckers of UConn and Caitlin Clark of Iowa sharing honors in 2020–21. Only four players have been named the National Player of the Year (by receiving the Naismith or Wooden 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 of Texas was the first in 2007, followed by Anthony Davis of Kentucky in 2012, Zion Williamson of Duke in 2019, and Cooper Flagg of Duke in 2025. The first woman to receive both honors was Bueckers in 2021. Chris Jackson and Seimone Augustus, the two inaugural award winners for the men and women, respectively, were coincidentally both players at LSU.

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. As a freshman at Tennessee in 1997–98, she averaged 18.2 points for the undefeated national champion Lady Volunteers. Catchings went on to be named a three-time USBWA All-American and the organization's national player of the year in 2000 before playing 16 seasons in the WNBA, retiring as the league's all-time leader in rebounds, steals, and made free throws, plus second in points. She also won four Olympic gold medals with the USA national team. [2]

Key

    †    Co-National Freshman of the Year
    *    Awarded a national player of the year award as a freshman:
the Naismith College Player of the Year or the John R. Wooden Award

Winners

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

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Freshmen are ineligible for the third major player of the year award in women's basketball, the Wade Trophy.
  2. ↑ Chris Jackson legally changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf in 1991 upon his conversion to Islam. [3]
  3. ↑ No award was given from 1995 to 1997, although the official USBWA website does not explain why. [8]

References

General
  1. "U.S. Basketball Writers Awards". United States Basketball Writers Association . Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  2. "USBWA Women's Honors". United States Basketball Writers Association. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
Specific
  1. ↑ "USBWA's Freshman of the Year Award to Be Named for Wayman Tisdale". United States Basketball Writers Association. 26 July 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  2. ↑ "USBWA Names Women's Freshman of the Year Award for Tamika Catchings" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  3. ↑ Armstrong, Jim (3 April 2010). "Former NBA star Abdul-Rauf has kept the faith". USA Today . Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Kansas State's Beasley is 2007–08 USBWA National Freshman of the Year" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. 12 March 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  5. ↑ "ACC 50th Anniversary Men's Basketball Team". Atlantic Coast Conference. 26 September 2002. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 "2009–10 NCAA Men's Basketball Season Awards". USA Today . 6 April 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 "Wall Named Freshman Of The Year". Southeastern Conference. 22 March 2010. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  8. ↑ "Kentucky's Wall is 2009–10 USBWA National Freshman of the Year". United States Basketball Writers Association. 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Awards". The Sports Network. 2010. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  10. ↑ "Kevin Durant". Player page. National Basketball Association. 2010. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  11. ↑ "Evans Named USBWA National Freshman of the Year". University of Memphis. 25 March 2009. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  12. ↑ Mills, Jeff (22 March 2010). "Writers select Kentucky's John Wall freshman of the year, Ohio State's Evan Turner player of the year". News-Record. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  13. ↑ Ohio State's Sullinger wins 2011 Wayman Tisdale award, accessed March 15, 2011
  14. ↑ Staff (13 March 2012). "Davis USBWA Freshman Of The Year". Lex18.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  15. ↑ "OSU's Marcus Smart named USBWA Freshman of the Year". Tulsa World. 13 March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  16. ↑ Borzello, Jeff (17 March 2014). "Jabari Parker named Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year". CBS Sports. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  17. ↑ Norlander, Matt (17 March 2015). "Jahlil Okafor wins Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award". CBS Sports. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  18. 1 2 "LSU's Simmons Wins Integris Wayman Tisdale Award" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. March 16, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  19. ↑ Bolch, Ben (March 16, 2017). "UCLA teammates see two sides of freshman guard Lonzo Ball". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Oklahoma's Young wins Wayman Tisdale Award" (Press release). USBWA. March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Duke's Williamson Wins Wayman Tisdale Award" (Press release). USBWA. March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  22. ↑ "USBWA Announces 2019-20 Men's Honors" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  23. ↑ "USBWA Announces 2020-21 Men's Honors" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Auburn's Smith Wins 2021–22 Wayman Tisdale Award" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. March 29, 2022. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Alabama's Miller wins 2022-23 Wayman Tisdale Award" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Kentucky's Sheppard wins 2024 Wayman Tisdale Award as National Freshman of the Year" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Duke's Flagg Wins 2024–25 Oscar Robertson Trophy, Wayman Tisdale Award". usbwa.com. March 25, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  28. ↑ "USBWA Tamika Catchings Award". www.sportswriters.net. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
  29. ↑ "Women → National Team → Seimone Augustus". USA Basketball. 14 October 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  30. ↑ "Houston's Curl, Texas' Jackson also honored" (Press release). ESPN. 4 April 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  31. ↑ "Tasha Humphrey bio". University of Georgia. 2 October 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2010.[ dead link ]
  32. ↑ SI Staff (30 March 2006). "Paris named USBWA Freshman of the Year". Scout.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  33. ↑ "USBWA Women's Awards". United States Basketball Writers Association. 2010. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  34. ↑ "Player bio: Maya Moore". University of Connecticut. 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  35. ↑ "Player bio: Shekinna Stricklen". University of Tennessee. 2010. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  36. ↑ Staff (1 April 2010). "Griner Named USBWA Freshman Of The Year". CentralTexasNow.com. Retrieved 12 April 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  37. ↑ Staff (30 March 2011). "USBWA announces 2010-11 women's homors". USBWA.net. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  38. ↑ Staff (28 March 2012). "Duke's williams is 2011-12 usbwa national freshman of the year". USBWA.net. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  39. ↑ Staff (4 April 2013). "Notre dame's loyd is 2012-13 usbwa national freshman of the year". sportswriters.net. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  40. ↑ "DeShields Honored By USBWA As Nation's Top Freshman". GoHeels.com. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  41. ↑ "USBWA names Mitchell freshman of year". The Columbus Dispatch. 5 April 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  42. ↑ "Cal Women's Basketball – 2015-16 Roster". California Golden Bears . Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  43. ↑ "USBWA Presents 2016-17 Women's Honors" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. March 31, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  44. ↑ "Chennedy Carter Named WBCA NCAA Division I Freshman of the Year" (Press release). Texas A&M Aggies. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  45. ↑ "Rhyne Howard Named USBWA National Freshman of the Year" (Press release). Kentucky Wildcats. April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  46. ↑ "USBWA Announces 2019-20 Women's Honors" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  47. ↑ "USBWA Names Tamika Catchings Award, Coach of the Year Winners" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  48. ↑ "DePaul's Morrow Wins 2021–22 Tamika Catchings Award" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. March 29, 2022. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  49. ↑ "Latson Wins 2022-23 Tamika Catchings Award" (Press release). Florida State University. March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  50. ↑ "USC's Watkins wins 2024 Tamika Catchings Award as National Freshman Player of the Year" (Press release). USBWA. March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  51. ↑ "Vanderbilt's Blakes wins 2024–25 Tamika Catchings National Freshman Player of the Year Award". usbwa.com. March 25, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
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