Kansas' Sherron Collins

Sherron Collins, who was named preseason all-Big 12 and received votes for the Associated Press All-America team, claimed a third honor on Friday.

Kansas University’s junior point guard was tapped one of 50 preseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award.

Other Big 12 players on the list: A.J. Abrams and Damion James, Texas; Blake Griffin, Oklahoma and Curtis Jerrells, Baylor.

Several of KU’s nonconference opponents also had players on the list: Washington’s Jon Brockman, Arizona’s Chase Budinger, Temple’s Dionte Christmas, Michigan State’s Raymar Morgan and Tennessee’s Tyler Smith.

KU also will meet either Florida’s Nick Calathes or Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn Nov. 25 at the CBE Classic in Kansas City.

North Carolina senior Tyler Hansbrough won the Wooden Award last year. Virginia’s Ralph Sampson is the only two-time Wooden winner (1982, 83).

UNC had had three players on the list in Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson. Six schools placed two players on the list: Louisville (Earl Clark, Terrence Williams), Duke (Kyle Singler, Gerald Henderson), Marquette (Jerel McNeal, Dominic James), Pittsburgh (DeJuan Blair, Sam Young), Connecticut (A.J. Price, Hasheem Thabeet), and Texas.

In all, 42 schools and 13 conferences were represented. Leading the way is the Big East (12), followed by the ACC (8), Pac-10 (5), SEC (5), Big 12 (5), Atlantic-10 (2), Big Ten (3), Conference USA (3), Mountain West (2), West Coast (2), Colonial Athletic Association (1), Ohio Valley (1) and the Southern Conference (1).

KU assistant coach Danny Manning won the Wooden Award in 1988. Nine Jayhawks have been named to the Wooden Award All-America team: Brandon Rush (2007, 2008), Wayne Simien (2005), Nick Collison (2003), Kirk Hinrich (2003), Drew Gooden (2002), Raef LaFrentz (1997, 1998), Paul Pierce (1998), Jacque Vaughn (1996, 1997), and Manning (1986, 1998).

As far as Collins … he’s off to a good start this preseason.

He scored 22 points off 8-of-12 shooting with seven assists against one turnover while playing 30 minutes in the Jayhawks’ 98-79 rout of Washburn on Tuesday in Allen Fieldhouse.

“I thought our conditioning was a big positive. Sherron didn’t look tired to me. He’s the biggest key from a conditioning standpoint we probably have,” KU coach Bill Self said of the 5-11, 200-pounder who has had some weight problems in the past.

“He didn’t play 40 minutes, but he played 30 and played hard,” added Self, who has said Collins is so important to the offense, he might put up 20 or more shots a game this season.

“He only shot the ball 12 times. He’ll shoot more than that,” Self said. “I thought he went through a phase in the second half he tried to do too much. He got beat twice and gave up layups. Everything else was in rhythm.”

Collins gave himself passing marks for his debut.

“There was a point I tried to do too much. I got a shot blocked. I’ve got to let the game come to me,” he said.

He grinned when asked if he’d gladly launch 20 or more shots per game.

“I am not thinking about that,” he said. “When I think about things like that I try to do too much. I just want to help the younger guys as much as I can and play as hard as I can every minute I’m in there.”

Collins’ attitude has been great since the start of practice, Self said, indicating the preseason accolades have not affected the lead guard negatively.

“Sherron has been fabulous as far as being a leader, helping the young guys,” Self said. “For us, it’s been a different guy every night. Now, moreso than ever, if Sherron doesn’t play well, there’s a chance of us not looking very good. Before if Mario (Chalmers) didn’t play well, we’d need Sherron to (play well). We don’t have another guy like that to replace him.”