Diaz Named Naismith Award Candidate

Nov. 23, 2005

Coral Gables, Fla. (hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami junior guard Guillermo Diaz (Carolina, Puerto Rico) has been named one of 50 preseason candidates for the Naismith Award presented annually to the top collegiate basketball player in the nation.

The Naismith Awards program, now in its 38th year, honors the outstanding college basketball players in the United States. The awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball.

The Top 50 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its pre-season criteria on player performances from last season.

Diaz, who was named a preseason Wooden Award candidate in October, averaged 18.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game last season, and was the only player in the ACC to rank among the top-10 (conference games only) in scoring (2nd), field goal percentage (8th), three-point field goal percentage (10th) and steals (3rd).

A 2005-06 preseason first-team All-ACC selection, Diaz has led the Hurricanes to a 4-1 record this season averaging team-highs in both scoring (16.4 ppg) and assists (4.0 apg), while also pulling down 2.8 rebounds per game. He has scored in double-figures in all five games this season extending his streak of consecutive double-figure scoring games to 32, the longest active streak in the ACC.

Cingular Wireless, the nation’s largest wireless carrier, will give fans a voice in selecting this year’s winner. Fans voting via text messaging will account for 25% of the selection process.

In January, the Board of Selectors will narrow its pre-season list to the Top 30 players in the nation. Those players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March. Beginning in mid-February, CBS’ “Cingular at the Half” will feature a weekly Naismith Trophy Watch highlighting the players in contention. In April, the player of the year will be recognized at the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis.

2005-06 Naismith Award Preseason Candidates(Players listed alphabetically.)

Hassan Adams, ArizonaMaurice Ager, Michigan StateJosh Boone, ConnecticutBrandon Bowman, GeorgetownRonnie Brewer, ArkansasDee Brown, IllinoisShannon Brown, Michigan StateGreg Brunner, IowaNik Caner-Medley, MarylandRodney Carney, MemphisMardy Collins, TempleJamesOn Curry, Oklahoma StatePaul Davis, Michigan StateGlen Davis, Louisiana StateTaquan Dean, LouisvilleGuillermo Diaz, MiamiJared Dudley, Boston CollegeJordan Farmar, UCLANick Fazekas, NevadaMike Gansey, West VirginiaRudy Gay, ConnecticutDaniel Gibson, TexasJustin Gray, Wake ForestTaj Gray, OklahomaJeff Green, GeorgetownVincent Grier, MinnesotaChris Hernandez, StanfordEric Hicks, CincinnatiJeff Horner, IowaCarl Krauser, PittsburghBo McCalebb, New OrleansGerry McNamara, SyracusePaul Millsap, Louisiana TechAdam Morrison, GonzagaKevin Pittsnogle, West VirginiaLeon Powe, CaliforniaRajon Rando, KentuckyAllan Ray, VillanovaBrandon Roy, WashingtonJ.J. Redick, DukeCraig Smith, Boston CollegeSteven Smith, LaSalleCurtis Stinson, IowaCurtis Sumpter, VillanovaP.J. Tucker, TexasAlando Tucker, WisconsinDarius Washington, MemphisShelden Williams, DukeEric Williams, Wake ForestCurtis Withers, Charlotte