Dybantsa is one of seven freshmen named to the list as he is currently leading NCAA Division I men’s basketball in scoring at 24.0 points per game for a Cougars squad that is ranked No. 22 in the latest AP Poll.
He has scored in double figures in every game of his collegiate career, including four 30-point performances highlighted by a freshman record 43 points in a win over rival Utah. He also recorded the first triple-double by a freshman in program history in a win over Eastern Washington, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Entering Tuesday’s showdown at Baylor, the 6-foot-9 forward is shooting 54.0 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from 3-point range and 74.9 percent from the free throw line. The four-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week ranks third in the nation in triple-doubles (1), fourth in the nation in field goals (188), eighth in free throw attempts and 12th in free throws (146).
About the John R. Wooden Award
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award Program hosts the most prestigious honors in college basketball, recognizing the Wooden Award Most Outstanding Player for men and women, the Wooden Award All-America Teams for men and women, and the annual selection of the Wooden Award Legends of Coaching recipient.
Honorees are certified by their universities as meeting Wooden Award standards established by Coach Wooden, including progress toward graduation and at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Past winners include Larry Bird 1979, Michael Jordan 1984, Tim Duncan 1997, Kevin Durant 2007, Candace Parker 2007 and 2008, Maya Moore 2009 and 2011, Chiney Ogwumike 2014, and last year's recipients, Juju Watkins of USC and Cooper Flagg of Duke.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed nearly one million dollars to universities’ general scholarship funds and nonprofit enterprises in the names of the Wooden Award All-American recipients and has sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps.
The John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long event brings together Special Olympics athletes, Wooden Award All-Americans, and attending coaches. It is hosted at the Los Angeles Athletic Club during the John R. Wooden Award Weekend.
The mission of the John R. Wooden Award Foundation (JRWAF) is to promote teamwork, academic excellence, and character development, reflecting the enduring values of John R. Wooden. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the JRWAF serves as an angel organization, independently guiding the funding of educational, athletic, and philanthropic initiatives. A dedicated board of directors leads the Foundation’s efforts, committed to advancing John R. Wooden’s legacy and the timeless principles of his Pyramid of Success.
For the latest updates, visit WoodenAward.com and follow @WoodenAward on X, Instagram,
