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Come Fan with UsTuesday, August 4, 2026

Wooden Award preseason top 50 list revealed

Indiana Hoosiers forward Cody Zeller headlines the group of 50 players who cracked the preseason list.

Andy Lyons

The Wooden Award preseason top 50 list has been revealed by Myron Medcalf ESPN.com.

Freshmen and transfers are not eligible for the list, but can be added as the season progresses. The John R. Wooden Award, which has been given out annually since 1977, is voted upon by media member after the award’s national advisory board compiles a list of candidates near the end of the college basketball season.

Indiana Hoosiers forward Cody Zeller, who would have been a lottery pick in last summer's NBA draft, headlines the top 50 list. The Associated Press preseason All-American averaged 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game for the Hoosiers last season, and his return contributed in large part to the Hoosiers No. 1 preseason ranking.

Zeller is joined on the list by fellow AP preseason All-American forward Deshaun Thomas of Ohio State and guards C.J. McCollum of Lehigh and Isaiah Canaan of Murray State.

The complete top 50 list -- as well as potential freshman and transfers who might be added as the season progresses -- can be found here.

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