The University of Mississippi Athletics
Terrico White Makes Naismith Preseason Watch List
10/31/2009 | Men's Basketball
ATLANTA - Ole Miss sophomore guard Terrico White is one of 50 of college basketball's top players that were selected to the 2009-10 Naismith Preseason Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced this week.
The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year was also named a Wooden Award preseason candidate and first-team preseason All-SEC in recent weeks. Last year, White averaged 18.4 points per game in conference play, most among league freshmen and fourth-most among all players. The Memphis, Tenn., native also received Freshman All-America distinction from several outlets and All-SEC second-team status.
White is one of 13 sophomores on the list, which includes 33 upperclassmen and four freshmen. The SEC had eight selections to the list, while the Big East and ACC led the way with nine representatives apiece.
Other SEC players are South Carolina's Devan Downey, LSU's Tasmin Mitchell, Vanderbilt's A.J. Ogilvy, Tennessee's Tyler Smith, Mississippi State's Jarvis Varnado and Patrick Patterson and John Wall of Kentucky.
The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2009-10 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T will be awarded at the 2010 NCAA Men's Final Four in Indianapolis, Ind.
"The level of talent is exceptional across all teams, conferences and classes, which further underscores just how many candidates have a legitimate chance to win this award," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. "We are looking forward to the start of the season and to see who will end the year as the winner of the Naismith Trophy, the most prestigious award in college basketball."
Since 2005, presenting sponsor AT&T has set the standard in allowing fans to participate in determining the trophy winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25 percent of the final results - more than any other national college basketball award. In February, during CBS' coverage of college basketball, the "AT&T at the Half" segment will feature a Naismith Trophy update highlighting the players in contention for the award.
"AT&T congratulates these athletes for their exceptional career performances, and we're eager to see which player lands this esteemed award," said Tim McGhee, executive director, AT&T corporate sponsorships. "We know college basketball fans are passionate about the game, and through our text message voting program, we're giving them the opportunity to help determine this year's award recipient."
In late February, the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors will compile a mid-season team of the Top 30 players in the nation. Then in March, the Naismith Trophy voting academy will vote to narrow the list to the four finalists.
Visit www.naismithawards.com to access the complete 2009-10 Naismith Preseason Watch List.
