Aug. 20, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Georgetown University sophomore men's basketball player Greg Monroe (New Orleans, La./Helen Cox) was one of 50 student-athletes across the country selected as a preseason candidate for the 2009-10 John R. Wooden Award All-American Team and Player of the Year trophy.

The list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball's most prestigious honor. Transfers, freshmen and medical redshirts are not eligible for the preseason list. These players and others who excel throughout the season will be evaluated and considered for December's Midseason list and the official voting ballot released in March.

Monroe was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year as a freshman and was selected to the All-Rookie Team. The 6-10, 240-pound center finished second on the team in scoring with 12.7 points per game and led the team in rebounding, grabbing 6.5 boards per game. Monroe also led the Hoyas in field goal percentage (57.2%), blocked shots (1.45 per game), steals (1.84 per game) and was second on the team in assists (2.55 per game). He ranked among the leaders in the BIG EAST in several statistical categories, standing sixth in steals, ninth in field goal percentage, 10th in blocked shots and 19th in rebounding.

In BIG EAST games, Monroe led the team in scoring with 12.9 points per game, averaged 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals while connecting on 55.9 percent of his field goals. He ranked 28th in the league in scoring, tied for 14th in rebounding, 10th in field goal percentage and fifth in the league in steals.

Monroe was among 11 BIG EAST players selected to the list, the most of any conference in the country.

Under the direction of Head Coach John Thompson III, Georgetown made its fifth-straight postseason appearance last season, advancing to the NIT. Georgetown finished among the top-15 in the country in strength of schedule last year and posted four wins over top-25 teams, beat two teams that advanced to the Final four and two that reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Hoyas welcome back three starters, including Monroe and rising junior guards Austin Freeman (Mitchellville, Md./DeMatha) and Chris Wright (Bowie, Md./St. John's College HS [D.C.]).

In late December, the Wooden Award Committee will release the Midseason Top 30 list, followed in March by the National Ballot, consisting of approximately 20 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round during the NCAA Tournament.

The 34th annual Wooden Award ceremony, which will include the announcement of the Men's and Women's Wooden Award winner, and the presentation of the Wooden Award All-American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award, will take place the weekend of April 9-11, 2010.

About the John R. Wooden Award

Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird ('79), Michael Jordan ('84), Tim Duncan ('97), and Blake Griffin ('09). Candace Parker of Tennessee won the Women's Wooden Award in 2007 and 2008.

Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed close to a million dollars to universities' general scholarship fund in the names of the All-American recipients. The Award has also sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps in the Award's name. Additionally, 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 tournament, which brings together Special Olympic athletes and the All-Americans, takes place at The Los Angeles Athletic Club on the Friday prior to the John R. Wooden Award Ceremony.