OSU’s Evan Turner wins Wooden Award

Associated Press

Los Angeles

Ohio State’s Evan Turner won the John R. Wooden Award, claiming yet another trophy as the nation’s top basketball player.

Turner was chosen Friday night over Kentucky freshman John Wall, Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson, West Virginia forward Da’Sean Butler and Kansas guard Sherron Collins for the 34th Wooden Award at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Turner already won The Associated Press player of the year award and the Naismith Award. The Big Ten’s player of the year averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists while making more than 52 percent of his shots.

“It’s definitely a great honor,” Turner said. “The other nominees are great players and great people. Thank God for basketball, and thank God for everybody else.”

Turner received 3,715 points in the voting by more than 1,000 media members and college basketball experts. Wall, the Wildcats’ NBA-bound point guard, finished a close second with 3,331 points, while Johnson was third with 1,871.

Turner joins a list of winners including Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Elton Brand, Kevin Durant and 2009 winner Blake Griffin. The former Oklahoma star, who missed the entire NBA season with the Los Angeles Clippers with a knee injury, presented the trophy to Turner.