LSU commit Ben Simmons and UConn commit Katie Lou Samuelson are the 2015 winners of the 2015 Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award.
Ben Simmons is the top ranked recruit in the nation and now the LSU signee can add Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award winner after he and Katie Lou Samuelson were named the male and female winners in 2015 for their accomplishments on and off the basketball court.
More from Mens Basketball
- Bronny James collapses at practice, taken to ICU with cardiac arrest
- 3 quick takeaways from Kentucky basketball’s win vs. Germany at GLOBL JAM
- UNC basketball adds fifth transfer of offseason with West Virginia big
- Undrafted Kentucky basketball star makes NBA contract official
- Caesars Iowa Promo Unlocks Massive $1,250 Bonus to Bet on ANYTHING!
Simmons is the 19th male to win the award, joining last year’s winner Jahlil Okafor and the likes of Jabari Parker, Kevin Love, LeBron James, Dwight Howard and the award’s first recipient, Shane Battier, who took home the honors in 1997.
The Morgan Wootten Award is given annually to the best male and female McDonald’s All American players who exemplify outstanding character, exhibit leadership and embody the values of being a student-athlete in the classroom and the community.
An official award presentation will take place at the McDonald’s All American Games awards banquet on March 31 in Chicago. The McDonald’s All-American game is the next night at the United Center.
Simmons (Montverde, FL. Montverde Academy) is the second player from the Sunshine State to win the award, joining Austin Rivers who won in 2011 before playing at Duke. He averaged 28 points, 11.9 rebounds, four assists, 2.6 steals and 1.5 blocks per game for the nation’s No. 2 ranked team, according to Max Preps. He led his team to the national championship in 2013 and 2014.
The 6-8, 220-pound small forward who committed to LSU on Oct. 14 in 2013 edged out finalists Jalen Brunson (Lincolnshire, IL. Adlai E. Stevenson ), Isaiah Briscoe (Roselle, N.J. Roselle Catholic), Jaylen Brown (Wheeler High School – Marietta, Georgia), Malik Newman (Jackson, MS. Callaway) and Stephen Zimmerman Jr. (Las Vegas, NV. Bishop Gorman).
Samuelson is a 6-3 wing player from Mater Deiin Santa Ana, California, the No. 1 team in the nation and the school that has produced notable college athletes like USC quarterbacks, Matt Leinart and Matt Barkley and Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan.
She is 14th winner of the award, joining joining the likes of Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Candace Parker, among others.
Samuelson is the first from the state of California to take home the honors after she beat out finalists De’Janae Boykin (Springdale, MD. Charles H. Flowers), Kalani Brown (Slidell, LA. Salmen), Naphessa Collier (St. Louis, MO. Incarnate Word Academy), Asia Durr (Atlanta, GA. St. Pius X Catholic) and Arike Ogunbowale (Milwaukee, WI. Divine Savior Holy Angels).
She signed to play her college basketball with powerhouse Connecticut and play for head coach Geno Auriemma and former Wootten Award winner, Stewart who will be a senior next year and fellow finalists, Boykin and Collier.
McDonald’s established the award to honor Wootten’s achievements as a teacher and coach. He coached 43 years at (Hyattsville, Md. DeMatha), where he led his team to five national championships, 33 conference championships and was the first coach to reach 1,200 career wins.
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle