Tennessee Volunteers guard Dalton Knecht has been named one of five finalists for one of the most prestigious awards in college basketball.
Even after basketball season ended at the Univeristy of Tennessee, guard Dalton Knecht’s season continues to grow more legendary. He’s now been named as one of five finalists for the Wooden Award, annually given to college basketball’s top player. His counterparts include Houston guard Jamal Shead, North Carolina guard RJ Davis, Purdue forward Zach
Upcoming women’s Final Four participants Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Paige Bueckers of the UConn Huskies headline the five-player finalist list for the Wooden Award, given to the most outstanding player in women’s college basketball.
The group is rounded out by the Stanford Cardinal’s Cameron Brink, USC Trojans’ JuJu Watkins and Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s Hannah Hidalgo, the latter two who are freshmen.
Clark (2023) and Bueckers (2021) won two of the past three Wooden Awards and coincidentally will face off Friday for a spot in the national championship game. The former is the presumptive No. 1 pick in this month’s WNBA draft.
Cardoso and her undefeated Gamecocks face NC State in the other national semifinal and are looking to take home their third championship in seven tournaments.
Reese, last year’s Final Four Most
Outstanding Player, and Watkins, the favorite for freshman of the year, bowed out of the NCAA tournament Monday at the hands of Iowa and UConn, respectively. Hidalgo’s and Brink’s squads fell in the Sweet 16, while Virginia Tech (without Kitley due to injury) lost in the second round.
The winner of this year’s Wooden Award will be announced later in April.
