Colorado sophomore guard Alec Burks on Thursday made the 30-player cut for the Wooden Award, one of college basketball’s most prestigious awards.
Burks leads the Buffaloes this season with 19.1 points per game and has eight games of 20 or more points.
Colorado (11-4) starts its final Big 12 Conference schedule Saturday against No. 9 Missouri (14-1).
The award is decided by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board and will be announced April 8.
CU senior guard Cory Higgins, who had made the 50-player cut, missed out this round.
Awini declares for Rams, sort of.
Quarterback Jaleel Awini, named the state’s Gatorade player of the year after leading Rangeview to a 11-1 record, said Thursday he has given Colorado State what he called “a soft verbal commitment.”
“I’d like to keep my options open,” said the 6-foot-2, 190-pound athlete. Air Force and Big Sky schools Weber State and Eastern Washington have shown interest, and Awini said Vanderbilt entered the picture around the holidays.
Proximity, however, is an issue for him. “Being at home is more important to me,” Awini said.
Although he is considered a quarterback/athlete type of prospect, Awini said running a pro-style offense such as the one at CSU “has always been a goal of mine.” He passed for 1,266 yards and rushed for 1,078 yards.
He said he would like to make a firm decision in two weeks. Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
Mammoth picks captains.
The Colorado Mammoth named team captains in preparation for Saturday’s National Lacrosse League season opener vs. NLL champion Washington at the Pepsi Center.
Defenseman John Gallant, the longest-tenured player with the team, will retain his captainship, and forwards John Grant Jr. and Brian Langtry have been named assistant captains for the first time.
Grant was an assistant captain with Rochester before being acquired by the Mammoth in October. Langtry has been a fan favorite and consistent scorer since the team moved to Colorado in 2003.
“Brian’s as vocal and passionate as anyone I’ve ever met,” Mammoth president and general manager Steve Govett said. “From lengthy conversations we’ve had with him, there’s no question that he’s excited to be an assistant captain and to get the season started.”
Game time is 7 p.m.
