Kansas forward Marcus Morris catches a lob pass for a bucket on the UMKC defense during the second half on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas junior forward Marcus Morris has been selected as a John Wooden Award midseason top 30 candidate, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Thursday.

The Wooden Award is given annually to the nation’s top player.

The midseason list, selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, is made up of 30 athletes whose November and December performances make them frontrunners for the honor.

Morris, a 6-foot-9 forward, is averaging 15.2 points per game while leading the Big 12 in field-goal percentage (60.6 percent).

All players nationally who excel throughout the season will be evaluated and considered for the official voting ballot released in March.

The Wooden Award ceremony will take place the weekend of April 8-10, 2011.