Wooden Award preseason top 50 includes Deshaun Thomas, Aaron Craft, and D.J. Cooper

The Wooden Award preseason top 50 was unveiled on Thursday and includes two Ohio State Buckeyes and one player for the Ohio Bobcats. The Wooden Award is given to the most outstanding college basketball player at the end of every season. Freshmen and transfer students are not eligible for the preseason list, but can be added at a later time and can win the award at the end of the season.

Ohio State placed two juniors, Deshaun Thomas and Aaron Craft, on the preseason list. Thomas averaged 15.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season and was named a AP Preseason All-American. With Jared Sullinger gone, Thomas will be the focal point of the Buckeyes offense. Craft was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last season and averaged 8.8 points, 4.6 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game.

Ohio Bobcats senior guard D.J. Cooper was also included in the preseason top 50. Last season Cooper averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game and led the Bobcats to the Sweet Sixteen.