Loyola's Blake Schilb on preseason watch list for Wooden Award

Oct. 25, 2006

Chicago, Ill. - Loyola University Chicago senior Blake Schilb has been named one the top 50 preseason candidates for the Men's 2006-07 Wooden Award All-America Team. The list is composed of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball's most coveted trophy. These top 50 candidates are comprised of returning players, although transfers, freshmen, medical red-shirts and other players who excel throughout the season will be evaluated and considered for both the midseason top 30 list and the national ballot.

Last season, Schilb averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game to help Loyola to a 19-11 overall record, the team's best showing since 1984-85. A two-time First Team All-Horizon League selection, Schilb also earned Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America honors a year ago, becoming the Ramblers' first All-American since Alfredrick Hughes in 1984-85.

Candidates for the Wooden Award were selected from 15 conferences, up from 11 a year ago. Conferences include the Atlantic Coast (eight players), Big XII (8), Pac-10 (7), Big East (7), Southeastern (6), Big 10 (4), Mountain West (2), Atlantic-10 (1), Conference USA (1), Western Athletic (1), Horizon League (1), Mid-Continent (1), Sun Belt (1), Colonial Athletic Association (1) and the Big Sky (1).

In January, the Wooden Award committee will release the midseason top 30, followed by the national ballot in early March. On March 27, the 10-player Wooden Award All-America Team will be announced. The 2007 Award ceremony, which will include the presentation of the Men's and Women's Wooden Award, the Wooden Award All-American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award, will be held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 7, 2007.

The complete Wooden Preseason Watch List follows:
Aaron Afflalo (UCLA), De'Angelo Alexander (Charlotte), Morris Almond (Rice), Corey Brewer (Florida), Jon Brockman (Washington), Jamar Butler (Ohio State), Coleman Collins (Virginia Tech), JamesOn Curry (Oklahoma State), Jermareo Davidson (Alabama), Glen Davis (LSU), Jared Dudley (Boston College), Nick Fazekas (Nevada), Aaron Gray (Pittsburgh), Jeff Green (Georgetown), Caleb Green (Oral Roberts), Malik Hairston (Oregon), Adam Haluska (Iowa), Lamont Hamilton (St. John's), Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), Brandon Heath (San Diego State), Roy Hibbert (Georgetown), Al Horford (Florida), Jarrius Jackson (Texas Tech), Dominic James (Marquette), Joseph Jones (Texas A&M), Acie Law (Texas A&M), Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky), Chris Lofton (Tennessee), Luc Richard Mbah a Monute (UCLA), Josh McRoberts (Duke), Sammy Mejia (DePaul), Joakim Noah (Florida), David Padgett (Louisville), Brian Randle (Illinois), Richard Roby (Colorado), Brandon Rush (Kansas), Blake Schilb (Loyola), Mustafa Shakur (Arizona), Sean Singletary (Virginia), Jason Smith (Colorado State), Ronald Steele (Alabama), Loren Stokes (Hofstra), Rodney Stuckey (Eastern Washington), Kammron Taylor (Wisconsin), Reyshawn Terry (North Carolina), Al Thornton (Florida State), Alando Tucker (Wisconsin), Ayinde Ubaka (California), Marcus Williams (Arizona), Julian Wright (Kansas).

Story provided by Loyola Office of Sports Information