McClellan on Player of the Year Watch Lists
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami senior shooting guard Sheldon McClellan is turning heads across the country, earning nods on a pair of watch lists for national player of the year awards.
He is one of 50 players on the Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year early season watch list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced, and one of 33 players on the watch list for the Oscar Robertson Trophy for Men’s National Player of the Year, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association released.
While leading the Canes to a 6-1 record and No. 21 position in the polls, McClellan is currently ranked nationally in 10 statistical categories. He is No. 44 in free throw percentage (89.7%), No. 50 in field goal percentage (59.7%), No. 81 in total points (119) and No. 96 in field goals made (96). His 59.7 percent shooting is ninth in the nation among guards and fourth-best among players on teams in the top eight basketball conferences (Power Five plus A-10, BIG EAST & American).
The senior from Houston averages 17.0 points per game for Miami, hitting 59.7 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from three and 89.7 percent at the line. He also averages 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 32.6 minutes per game.
The Naismith Trophy
The Naismith Trophy is awarded annually to the players of the year in women’s and men’s college basketball. This elite award is named in honor of the creator of the game of basketball, Dr. James Naismith. He invented basketball in 1891 after seeing the need for more indoor sports options during the cold months of winter. With a soccer ball, two peach baskets and a set of rules, the sport was born.
Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player Timeline
Midseason 30 – Thursday, February 11, 2016
Ten Semifinalists – Friday, March 2, 2016
Four Finalists – Sunday, March 20, 2016
Winner – Sunday, April 3, 2016
The Oscar Robertson Trophy
The Oscar Robertson Trophy watch list includes 33 players from 26 schools for the men’s national player of the year. The award will be presented at the College Basketball Awards gala in Oklahoma City on April 11, 2016, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The USBWA, comprised of nearly 1,000 sports journalists covering college basketball for newspapers, magazines and websites, will select the recipients of the awards.
