Yoeli Childs Named To Wooden Award Preseason Top 50

PROVO, Utah – BYU senior forward Yoeli Childs was named to the watch list for one of college basketball’s most prestigious awards.

The John R. Wooden Award is given to college basketball’s most outstanding player.

BYU has had two players in their program history win the award in Danny Ainge (1981) and Jimmer Fredette (2011).

Childs was one of 50 players recognized on the Wooden Award watch list. The 50 players listed are considered the top players in college basketball heading into the 2019-20 season.

Yoeli Childs has been to the Top 50 watch list for the John R. Wooden Award. One of the top awards in college basketball.

Shame the NCAA is keeping Childs' talent sidelined for another 8 games. #BYU

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 6, 2019

In his first three seasons with the Cougars, Childs has averaged 16.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. Last season, Childs was recognized as a first-team All-WCC performer as a junior.

Childs’ talent won’t be on display in this season until December 4th when BYU takes on rival Utah. The senior forward is serving a nine-game suspension handed down by the NCAA for hiring an agent before filing the proper paperwork with the organization that oversees collegiate athletics this past spring.

Along with being listed on the Wooden Award Top 50, Childs is also on the watch list for the Karl Malone Award, which is awarded to the best power forward in college basketball.

The Naismith Trophy top-50 watch list for POY is here!

Full list 👉 : https://t.co/KVU42Qybhm pic.twitter.com/8cNukNdtVL

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) November 4, 2019

The Wooden Award recognizes the top players in college basketball on and off the court. Honorees have proven to their university that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the John R. Wooden Award as set forth by Coach Wooden and the Wooden Award Steering Committee. Which includes making progress towards graduation and maintaining at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

The winner of the John R. Wooden Award will be announced on April 10, 2020, during the ESPN College Basketball Awards.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.