University of North Carolina Athletics
Caleb Wilson
Photo by: DALTON WAINSCOTT
Wilson Named To Wooden Award National Ballot
March 7, 2026 | Men's Basketball
North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson is one of 15 players named to the national ballot for the 2026 John Wooden Award, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced on Saturday morning.
Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the national ballot consists of 15 student athletes who are candidates for the Wooden Award All-America Team and Wooden Award Trophy, recognizing the most outstanding college basketball player in the nation.
The ballot includes two graduate students, two seniors, two juniors, three sophomores (including one redshirt sophomore) and six freshmen. The ballot represents 14 different universities, with Texas Tech featuring multiple student-athletes.
Players on the ballot include Wilson, Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), Christian Anderson (Texas Tech), Cameron Boozer (Duke), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Jeremy Fears (Michigan State), Kingston Flemings (Houston), Thomas Haugh (Florida), Graham Ike (Gonzaga), Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama), Braden Smith (Purdue), JT Toppin (Texas Tech) and Keaton Wagler (Illinois).
All players on the ballot have been certified by their respective universities as meeting or exceeding the qualifications set forth by Coach Wooden when the award was established. These qualifications include:
• Candidates must be full time students at an accredited NCAA college or university.
• Candidates must be making progress toward graduation and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 since enrolling.
• Candidates must contribute significantly to their team's success.
• Candidates must excel in both offensive and defensive aspects of the game.
• Candidates must be evaluated based on their performance over the entire season.
• Candidates must demonstrate strength of character, both on and off the court.
Voting for the 2026 Wooden Award All-America Team will open on March 16 at 6 p.m. ET and close on March 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET. During that time, voters will evaluate each candidate's complete body of work throughout the season, including performances in the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament, to determine the most outstanding players in college basketball.
The Wooden Award men's and women's All-America Teams, along with the men's and women's top five finalists for the Wooden Award Trophy, will be announced on Saturday, April 4 during the Men's Final Four on ESPN, building anticipation for the sport's most prestigious individual honor.
The Golden Anniversary celebration will culminate on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. That evening, with the Wooden Award winners from the top five finalists in attendance, the 2026 Wooden Award will be announced live at 9 p.m. EST during a nationally televised broadcast on ESPNU. The event will also recognize the 2026 Legends of Coaching Award recipient, Matt Painter of Purdue, as part of a historic 50th anniversary celebration honoring excellence both on and off the court.
Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the national ballot consists of 15 student athletes who are candidates for the Wooden Award All-America Team and Wooden Award Trophy, recognizing the most outstanding college basketball player in the nation.
The ballot includes two graduate students, two seniors, two juniors, three sophomores (including one redshirt sophomore) and six freshmen. The ballot represents 14 different universities, with Texas Tech featuring multiple student-athletes.
Players on the ballot include Wilson, Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), Christian Anderson (Texas Tech), Cameron Boozer (Duke), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Jeremy Fears (Michigan State), Kingston Flemings (Houston), Thomas Haugh (Florida), Graham Ike (Gonzaga), Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama), Braden Smith (Purdue), JT Toppin (Texas Tech) and Keaton Wagler (Illinois).
All players on the ballot have been certified by their respective universities as meeting or exceeding the qualifications set forth by Coach Wooden when the award was established. These qualifications include:
• Candidates must be full time students at an accredited NCAA college or university.
• Candidates must be making progress toward graduation and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 since enrolling.
• Candidates must contribute significantly to their team's success.
• Candidates must excel in both offensive and defensive aspects of the game.
• Candidates must be evaluated based on their performance over the entire season.
• Candidates must demonstrate strength of character, both on and off the court.
Voting for the 2026 Wooden Award All-America Team will open on March 16 at 6 p.m. ET and close on March 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET. During that time, voters will evaluate each candidate's complete body of work throughout the season, including performances in the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament, to determine the most outstanding players in college basketball.
The Wooden Award men's and women's All-America Teams, along with the men's and women's top five finalists for the Wooden Award Trophy, will be announced on Saturday, April 4 during the Men's Final Four on ESPN, building anticipation for the sport's most prestigious individual honor.
The Golden Anniversary celebration will culminate on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. That evening, with the Wooden Award winners from the top five finalists in attendance, the 2026 Wooden Award will be announced live at 9 p.m. EST during a nationally televised broadcast on ESPNU. The event will also recognize the 2026 Legends of Coaching Award recipient, Matt Painter of Purdue, as part of a historic 50th anniversary celebration honoring excellence both on and off the court.
Players Mentioned
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