In a move that just makes sense, the US Basketball Writers Association, who annually hand out an award to the best Freshman player during each NCAA season, has decided to name the prestigious award after former Oklahoma stand-out Wayman Tisdale. Why not, since Tisdale was once the first freshman ever to make an All American team back in the ’82-’83 season. He was one of the all around good guys in both the college and NBA games until his untimely death resulting from complications from cancer.
With today’s game dominated by one-and-done players, the annual Freshman of the Year Award is arguably equivalent to the NBA’s MVP Award, aptly named after Hall of Fame icon Bill Russell. Even though the NCAA also gives out a regular Player of the Year Award, in recent years a number of college freshman have turned out to be the best players like Kevin Durant, and John Wall last season. In fact, a lot of recent Freshman have gone on to even become #1 overall draft picks in the NBA in the past few seasons.
Tisdale had arguably the best Freshman campaign in NCAA history by compiling 24.5 ppg, 10.3 rebs and shooting more than 58% from the field. During his 3 seasons with the Sooners, he was thrice chosen as an All American before leaving for the NBA after his junior season. Tisdale also won a Gold medal for the USA in the ’84 Olympics, before playing 12 impressive seasons in the NBA, with career averages of 15.3 ppg and 6.1 rebounds. After basketball, Wayman also became an accomplished Jazz musician before his untimely demise.
There has been a discussion of naming the award after Tisdale since last Thanksgiving but couldn’t become official until approved by his widow, who unanimously complied earlier this month. The Tisdale Award winner will recieve a bronze statue, usually given out at each season’s Final Four site. Since Tisdale was an active member of his community, the award will also generate money to go towards some local charities, like most noticeably the Wayman Tisdale Charitable Foundation. The organization is still in search for a national sponsor for the award.
Check out a great Wayman Tisdale Tribute featuring Michael Jordan:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
