ESPN will close out the 2014-15 college basketball season with a new one-hour awards show on Friday, April 10, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2. In coordination with the Los Angeles Athletic Club and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the first-ever College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy’s program will celebrate the season’s top players and moments with the live announcement of eight awards.
The College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy’s will include the live presentation of the prestigious John R. Wooden Award for men’s and women’s player of the year, as well as honoring San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher with the 2015 Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. All three awards are owned and managed by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
In addition to the esteemed Bob Cousy Award, the show will include the live announcement of four new awards created and managed by the Basketball Hall of Fame, which has presented the Bob Cousy Award since 2004: Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award, Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
“The partnership between ESPN and the Los Angeles Athletic Club, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Club Nokia and Wendy’s creates an opportunity to celebrate the best in college basketball in a new and creative approach,” said Nick Dawson, ESPN senior director, programming and acquisitions.
ESPN’s Rece Davis will host the program, originating from Club Nokia in Los Angeles, with his College GameDay Covered by State Farm colleagues Jay Bilas and Jay Williams.
“The Hall of Fame’s mission is to promote the game of basketball and the best of the best within the sport,” said John Doleva, president and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “We look forward to working with our great partners on this new event that will truly serve as a great end of season showcase for college basketball.”
Awards on the show:
- John R. Wooden Award Men’s Player of the Year
- John R. Wooden Award Women’s Player of the Year
- John R. Wooden Award Legends of Coaching
- Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award
- Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award
- Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award
- Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award