USBWA National Freshman of the Year

USBWA National
Freshman of the Year
Awarded forthe most outstanding freshman male and female college basketball players
CountryUnited States
Presented byUnited States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA)
History
First award1989 (men)
1992 (women)
Most recentCameron Boozer, Duke (men)
Jazzy Davidson, USC (women)
WebsiteOfficial website

The USBWA National Freshman of the Year is an annual basketball honor given to college basketball's most outstanding freshman male player and female player by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), an association of college basketball journalists. Since 2011 the men's award has been called the Wayman Tisdale Award[1] while the women's award has been called the Tamika Catchings Award since 2020.[2] The award was first given following the 1988–89 season for men and 1991–92 for women.[3][4]

There has never been a tie for the men's award, but there have been two for the women, with Tasha Humphrey (Georgia) and Candice Wiggins (Stanford) sharing the 2004–05 award, and Paige Bueckers (UConn) and Caitlin Clark (Iowa) sharing honors in 2020–21.[5][6] Five players have been named a national player of the year by receiving one of the major awards for either men or women[a] in the same season as being named the USBWA Freshman of the Year. Among men's players, Kevin Durant (Texas) was the first in 2007, followed by Anthony Davis (Kentucky) in 2012, Zion Williamson (Duke) in 2019, and Cooper Flagg (also of Duke) in 2025. The first woman to receive both honors was Bueckers in 2021.

On July 26, 2010, the USBWA announced that they would rename the men's National Freshman of the Year award after the late Wayman Tisdale, who in 1983 was named a first-team All-American as a freshman at Oklahoma.[1] The women's award was officially named in honor of Tamika Catchings on October 17, 2019.[2] As a freshman at Tennessee in 1997–98, she averaged 18.2 points for the undefeated national champion Lady Volunteers.[2] Catchings went on to be named a three-time USBWA All-American and the organization's national player of the year in 2000.[2]

Key

† Co-National Freshman of the Year
    *     Awarded a national player of the year award as a freshman:
Men – Sporting News; Oscar Robertson Trophy; Associated Press; NABC; UPI; Naismith; Wooden; Adolph Rupp Trophy; Helms
Women – Associated Press; Naismith; Wooden; WBCA

Winners

Chris Jackson[b], LSU, 1989
Katie Smith, Ohio State, 1993
Shea Ralph, UConn, 1997
Luol Deng, Duke, 2004
Marvin Williams, North Carolina, 2005
Shekinna Stricklen, Tennessee, 2009
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky, 2019
Jabari Smith, Auburn, 2022
Brandon Miller, Alabama, 2023
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt, 2025
Men
Season Player School Position Reference
1988–89 Chris Jackson[b] LSU PG [3]
1989–90 Kenny Anderson Georgia Tech PG [6]
1990–91 Rodney Rogers Wake Forest PF [7]
1991–92 Chris Webber Michigan C [8]
1992–93 Jason Kidd California PG [9]
1993–94 Joe Smith Maryland PF / C [10]
1994–95 No award[c]
1995–96
1996–97
1997–98 Larry Hughes Saint Louis SG [11]
1998–99 Quentin Richardson DePaul SF / SG [12]
1999–00 Jason Gardner Arizona PG [13]
2000–01 Eddie Griffin Seton Hall C [14]
2001–02 T. J. Ford Texas PG [15]
2002–03 Carmelo Anthony Syracuse SF [16]
2003–04 Luol Deng Duke SF [6]
2004–05 Marvin Williams North Carolina PF [7]
2005–06 Tyler Hansbrough North Carolina PF / C [17]
2006–07 Kevin Durant* Texas SF [18]
2007–08 Michael Beasley Kansas State PF [19]
2008–09 Tyreke Evans Memphis PG [20]
2009–10 John Wall Kentucky PG [21]
2010–11 Jared Sullinger Ohio State PF [1]
2011–12 Anthony Davis* Kentucky C [22]
2012–13 Marcus Smart Oklahoma State PG [23]
2013–14 Jabari Parker Duke SF [24]
2014–15 Jahlil Okafor Duke C [25]
2015–16 Ben Simmons LSU PG [26]
2016–17 Lonzo Ball UCLA PG [27]
2017–18 Trae Young Oklahoma PG [28]
2018–19 Zion Williamson* Duke PF [29]
2019–20 Vernon Carey Jr. Duke C [7]
2020–21 Cade Cunningham Oklahoma State PG [30]
2021–22 Jabari Smith Auburn PF [7]
2022–23 Brandon Miller Alabama SF [31]
2023–24 Reed Sheppard Kentucky SG / PG [32]
2024–25 Cooper Flagg* Duke SG / SF [33]
2025–26 Cameron Boozer* Duke PF [34]
Women
Season Player School Position Reference
1988–89 No award[5]
1989–90
1990–91
1991–92 Niesa Johnson Alabama G [4]
1992–93 Katie Smith Ohio State SG / SF [35]
1993–94 Leslie Johnson Purdue F / C [36]
1994–95 Korie Hlede Duquesne SG [37]
1995–96 Chamique Holdsclaw Tennesse SF [38]
1996–97 Shea Ralph UConn PG [39]
1997–98 Tamika Catchings Tennessee SF [40]
1998–99 Linda Fröhlich UNLV C [41]
1999–00 LaToya Thomas Mississippi State F [42]
2000–01 Alana Beard Duke SG / SF [43]
2001–02 Jacqueline Batteast Notre Dame F [44]
2002–03 Seimone Augustus LSU SF [45]
2003–04 Tiffany Jackson Texas F [46]
2004–05† Tasha Humphrey Georgia C [47]
Candice Wiggins Stanford PG / SG [47]
2005–06 Courtney Paris Oklahoma C [48]
2006–07 Tina Charles UConn C [49]
2007–08 Maya Moore UConn PF [50]
2008–09 Shekinna Stricklen Tennessee SF / G [51]
2009–10 Brittney Griner Baylor C [52]
2010–11 Odyssey Sims Baylor PG [53]
2011–12 Elizabeth Williams Duke C / PF [54]
2012–13 Jewell Loyd Notre Dame PG / SG [55]
2013–14 Diamond DeShields North Carolina SG [56]
2014–15 Kelsey Mitchell Ohio State PG / SG [57]
2015–16 Kristine Anigwe California C / PF [58]
2016–17 Sabrina Ionescu Oregon PG [59]
2017–18 Chennedy Carter Texas A&M PG [60]
2018–19 Rhyne Howard Kentucky SG [61]
2019–20 Aliyah Boston South Carolina PF / C [62]
2020–21† Paige Bueckers* UConn PG [63]
Caitlin Clark Iowa PG [63]
2021–22 Aneesah Morrow DePaul F [5]
2022–23 Ta'Niya Latson Florida State G [64]
2023–24 JuJu Watkins USC SG [65]
2024–25 Mikayla Blakes Vanderbilt SG [66]
2025–26 Jazzy Davidson USC G [67]
  • a Freshmen are ineligible for the third major player of the year award in women's basketball, the Wade Trophy.[68]
  • b Chris Jackson legally changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf in 1991 upon his conversion to Islam.[69]
  • c No award was presented to the men from 1995 to 1997, although the USBWA website does not indicate the reason.[6]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b c d "USBWA names top freshman award after Catchings". The Mountain Press. Sevierville, Tennessee. October 18, 2019. p. A10. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "LSU's Jackson Named USBWA All-American". Macon Chronicle-Herald. Macon, Missouri. March 14, 1989. p. 2. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Welch, Chris (November 11, 1992). "Tide has high hopes with Johnson, 'Yo'". The Huntsville Times. Huntsville, Alabama. p. 30. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c "USBWA Tamika Catchings Award". sportswriters.net. Zionsville, Indiana: USBWA. 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d "USBWA Wayman Tisdale Award". sportswriters.net. Zionsville, Indiana: USBWA. 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d "Men's USBWA Freshman of the Year Winners". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  8. ^ Kram, Mark (March 19, 1992). "Seasoned: No first-year jitters for 'Fab Five' as Michigan opens play vs. Owls". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 78. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Chapin, Dwight (October 28, 1993). "It's time to step up, Kidd". San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. p. 61. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Stratton, Bob (March 17, 1994). "Extraordinary Joe". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, Kansas. p. 49. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Eisenbath, Mike (April 4, 1998). "SLU's Hughes is honored as nation's top freshman – again". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 15. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ ""Q" honored again". Northwest Herald. Crystal Lake, Illinois. March 26, 1999. p. 14. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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  21. ^ Dawson, Brett (March 23, 2010). "Wall named Freshman of Year by writers". Courier Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. C6. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Latzke, Jeff (April 17, 2012). "Davis mum about NBA plans". Tulsa World. Tulsa, Oklahoma. p. 16. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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  24. ^ "Parker wins Tisdale Award". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. March 18, 2014. p. C5. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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  29. ^ "Zion Williamson: Honors". The Roanoke Times. Roanoke, Virginia. March 28, 2019. p. C4. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Unruh, Jacob (March 24, 2021). "Cowboys' star nets Tisdale Award". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. B1. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Zillgitt, Jeff; Schnell, Lindsay; Henderson, Cydney (June 22, 2023). "NBA mock draft features deep field, lots of guards". South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. p. B4. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ Taylor, Keith (March 23, 2024). "Sheppard wins prestigious Tisdale freshman of year award". The Winchester Sun. Winchester, Kentucky. p. A9. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Flagg wins double honor". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. March 26, 2025. p. C3. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Moran, Malcolm (March 24, 2026). "Duke's Boozer earns 2025-26 Oscar Robertson Trophy and Wayman Tisdale Award". Sportswriters.net. Indianapolis, Indiana: USBWA. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
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  36. ^ Carmin, Mike (April 7, 1994). "Boilers find room for improvement". Journal & Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. p. 15. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Lobo named player of year". The Montana Standard. Butte, Montana. March 15, 1995. p. 8. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Korie Hlede of Duquesne was named national freshman of the year.
  38. ^ Patrick, Dick (April 2, 1996). "Holdsclaw ends first season on right foot". USA Today. New York, New York. p. 12. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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  43. ^ "Beard to shadow Stiles". The Herald-Sun. Durham, North Carolina. March 24, 2001. p. 45. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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  51. ^ Fleser, Dan (April 2, 2009). "Stricklen named national freshman of year". Knoxville News Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. 22. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ "Baylor: Stockpile of talent has Bears hungry for more". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. April 4, 2010. p. A12. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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  54. ^ "Duke's Williams named nation's top freshman". The Herald-Sun. Durham, North Carolina. March 29, 2012. p. C2. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ "Freshman of the Year". South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. April 5, 2013. p. B5. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ Carter, Andrew (April 18, 2014). "Freshman of the year DeShields to leave UNC". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. B2. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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  58. ^ "Cal's Anigwe honored". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. June 16, 2015. p. 27. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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  60. ^ Fulkerson, Vickie (March 31, 2018). "And more". The Day. New London, Connecticut. p. 11. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  61. ^ "Rhyne Howard Named USBWA National Freshman of the Year". The Advocate-Messenger. Danville, Kentucky. April 6, 2018. p. B3. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ Hadley, Greg (March 26, 2020). "South Carolina coach, freshman earn national honors". Anderson Independent-Mail. Anderson, South Carolina. p. B1. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ a b Vann, Leah (July 4, 2021). "Ladies, the time is now". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. p. P1. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ^ Monkarsh, Julia (April 3, 2023). "Lady 'Noles showered with recognitions". Tallahassee Democrat. Tallahassee, Florida. p. U20. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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  66. ^ Morris, Alaina (July 28, 2025). "Standout Blakes is having an offseason to remember". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. p. B1. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  67. ^ Moran, Malcolm (March 25, 2026). "USC's Davidson wins 2025-26 Tamika Catchings Award". sportswriters.net. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  68. ^ Vanoni, Maggie (November 12, 2024). "UConn women's basketball star Paige Bueckers named to 2025 Wade Trophy watch list". Greenwich Time. Greenwich, Connecticut: Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  69. ^ Latimer, Clay (August 10, 1991). "Friends upset over Jackson's switch to Islam". Press-Register. Mobile, Alabama. p. 30. Retrieved August 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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