Perry Ellis makes Wooden preseason top 50
Chicago — Kansas University senior Perry Ellis, who scored 21 points in a 79-73 loss to Michigan State at the Champions Classic, has been named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list for the second straight season, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Tuesday.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Wichita is one of seven Big 12 Conference players on the list chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts.
Ellis is 2015 Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, preseason unanimous all-Big 12 and 2015 Associated Press All-America honorable mention.
Ellis entered Tuesday’s top-15 matchup No. 37 on the KU career scoring list with 1,173 points and No. 24 on the KU all-time rebound list with 614 boards.
He is on pace to become the eighth Jayhawk in school history to rank in the top 15 of both categories, joining the likes of Danny Manning, Nick Collison, Raef LaFrentz, Clyde Lovellette, Dave Robisch, Mark Randall and Wayne Simien.
The Wooden Award National Advisory Board will select 25 players to the Midseason Top 25 in early January. In early February, the Wooden Award will announce the Late Season Top 20–prior to the selection of 15 players for its national ballot.
Other Big 12 players on the list: Rico Gathers, Taurean Prince, Baylor; Buddy Hield, Oklahoma; Monte Morris, Georges Niang, Iowa State; Isaiah Taylor, Texas.
— See what people were saying about the game during KUsports.com’s live coverage
More news and notes from Kansas vs. Michigan State
- Jayhawks can’t stop Denzel Valentine, fall to Michigan State
- Column: KU fails to get Perry Ellis enough shots in first loss
- Notebook: KU band doesn’t travel to Champions Classic
- MSU’s Valentine joins good company with great night
- Thon Maker intrigued by KU
- Bill Self, Tom Izzo go way back
- Perry Ellis makes Wooden preseason top 50
- Keegan Ratings: Perry Ellis best scorer for KU on rough shooting night