Thomas Robinson Named John R. Wooden Award All-American

March 26, 2012

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas junior Thomas Robinson was named to the 2011-12 John R. Wooden Award All-American Team it was announced Monday.

Robinson is one of 10 players to be named to the prestigious All-America team. All 10 players have proven that they are making progress toward graduation and are maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA, an important component of the award insisted upon by Coach Wooden. In addition to the academic aspect, the Wooden Award is unique among college postseason awards because voters could consider performance during the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

The ESPN.com National Player of the Year, Big 12 Player of the Year and Naismith and Wooden awards finalist, Robinson leads the nation with 26 double-doubles in 2011-12. His 26 double-doubles also rank first on the Kansas single-season record, previously held by Drew Gooden in 2002 (25). A Washington, D.C., native, Robinson is the only player in the Big 12 to average a double-double with 17.7 points and 11.8 rebounds. A certain consensus All-American first-team selection and four-time Big 12 Player of the Week this season, Robinson’s 11.8 boards per game are second nationally.

Robinson is joined on the All-America team by Murray State’s Isaiah Canaan, Marquette’s Jae Crowder, Kentucky’s Anthony Davis, Missouri’s Marcus Denmon, Michigan State’s Draymond Green, West Virginia’s Kevin Jones, Creighton’s Doug McDermott, Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger and North Carolina’s Tyler Zeller.

Created in 1976 and named after the Hall of Fame player, coach and teacher, 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 that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA.

Kansas will now turn its attention to Ohio State for a Saturday evening matchup in the National Semifinals. The Jayhawks, who have appeared in each of the last three Final Fours hosted by the city of New Orleans, defeated the Buckeyes 78-67 in Lawrence on Dec. 10.

Kansas’ Thomas Robinson’s accolades for 2011-12
-John R. Wooden Award All-America Team
-Midwest Region MOP and All-Tournament Team
-NABC All-America First Team
-Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year Finalist
-NABC All-District 8 First Team
-CBSSports.com First Team All-American
-USBWA First Team All-American
-John R. Wooden Award Finalist
-USBWA District VI Player of the Year
-USBWA All-District VI
-Dick Vitale’s All-Solid Gold First Team
-ESPN.com National Player of the Year
-ESPN.com First Team All-American
-Sporting News First Team All-American
-Big 12 Player of the Year (Big 12 & AP)
-All-Big 12 First Team (Big 12 & AP)
-Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year Midseason Watch List
-Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (2/27)
-Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List
-John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Candidate
-Dick Vitale’s No. 1 Midseason National Player of the Year (1/4)
-Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (1/2)
-Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week by the USBWA (12/11)
-Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (12/12)
-Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (11/28)
-EA SPORTS Maui Invitational All-Tournament Team