Temple University Athletics
MARDY COLLINS NAMED PRESEASON CANDIDATE FOR NAISMITH AWARD
11.22.05 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA -- Senior guard Mardy Collins was named as a preseason candidate for the prestigious Naismith Award, given annually to the nation's top men's basketball player. Collins was listed among 50 candidates for the award which is presented by Cingular Wireless in conjunction with the Atlanta Tip-Off Club.
"The Board of Selectors has done a terrific job in identifying a pre-season candidates' list of 50 elite players," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. "Without doubt, this will be another great year of competition to see who will be this year's Naismith winner."
Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless carrier, will again give fans a voice in selecting this year's winner. Fan voting, through the power and ease of text messaging, will account for 25% of the selection process. This program sets the standard for integrating fans into the voting process and providing them with more input than with any other major collegiate sports award.
"The Naismith Trophy represents the pinnacle of individual achievement in college basketball," said Marc Lefar, Chief Marketing Officer for Cingular. "Cingular is proud to again partner with the Atlanta Tipoff Club to recognize the outstanding student-athletes who make the game of college basketball so exciting. We invite all fans to participate in the voting process this season and make their voice heard."
In January, the Board of Selectors will narrow its pre-season list to the Top 30 players in the nation. Those players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March. Beginning in mid-February, CBS' "Cingular at the Half" will feature a weekly Naismith Trophy Watch highlighting the players in contention. In April, the player of the year will be recognized at the NCAA Men's Final Four in Indianapolis.
The pre-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, listed in alphabetical order, are attached:
