ATLANTA - Just three months into the college basketball season, several programs are vying for supremacy as the top team in the nation. The same can be said for the 30 student-athletes looking to win the Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T after the midseason team was announced today by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. The Big East conference has seven players on the list, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with six. Two schools, Kansas and Kentucky, are represented by two players apiece.
The top 30 midseason men's list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists from around the country. The board based its criteria on player performances this season.
The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T is the most prestigious national basketball award and is given annually to the men's college basketball player of the year. This year, the award will be presented at the NCAA Men's Final Four in Indianapolis.
"While several candidates have begin to separate themselves there are a number of whom still can win the esteemed Naismith Trophy," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. "The exceptional talent level across the country has greatly elevated college basketball which makes for an outstanding finish to such a tremendous season."
As a presenting sponsor since 2005, AT&T has set the standard in fan participation in determining this year's winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25 percent of the final results - more than any other national college basketball award.
Beginning March 22, AT&T wireless customers - and sports fans on other wireless networks - will be able to text their votes for the player of their choice. Fans will be eligible to cast their vote for the winner until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 3, 2010. AT&T is making the voting open to other wireless carriers, allowing even more fans to participate. Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate. Standard messaging rates apply.
"AT&T is proud to equip these avid college basketball fans with the ability to vote for what's sure to be one of the most notable recognitions in these student-athletes' lives," said Jamie Kerr, senior manager, AT&T National Sponsorships. "We're looking forward to hearing which deserving player the fans choose to take home this prestigious honor."
CBS Sports' "AT&T at the Half" features a weekly Naismith Trophy Watch, highlighting the men's players in contention for the coveted award who have distinguished themselves throughout the season. On March 21, CBS will announce the four Naismith Trophy finalists during its first-round coverage of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
2010 Naismith Men's Mid-Season Candidates
| Last | First | School | Position | Class |
| Aldrich | Cole | Kansas | Center | Junior |
| Aminu | Al-Farouq | Wake Forest | Forward | Sophomore |
| Anderson | James | Oklahoma State | Guard | Junior |
| Babbitt | Luke | Nevada | Forward | Sophomore |
| Booker | Trevor | Clemson | Forward | Senior |
| Bouldin | Matt | Gonzaga | Guard | Senior |
| Butler | Da'Sean | West Virginia | Forward | Senior |
| Collins | Sherron | Kansas | Guard | Senior |
| Cousins | DeMarcus | Kentucky | Forward | Freshman |
| Downey | Devan | South Carolina | Guard | Senior |
| Dyson | Jerome | Connecticut | Guard | Senior |
| Fredette | Jimmer | BYU | Guard | Junior |
| Harangody | Luke | Notre Dame | Forward | Senior |
| Hayward | Gordon | Butler | Guard/Forward | Sophomore |
| Hummel | Robbie | Purdue | Forward | Junior |
| James | Damion | Texas | Guard/Forward | Senior |
| Johnson | Wesley | Syracuse | Forward | Junior |
| Jones | Dominique | South Florida | Guard | Junior |
| Landesberg | Sylven | Virginia | Guard | Sophomore |
| Lawal | Gani | Georgia Tech | Forward | Junior |
| Lucas | Kalin | Michigan State | Guard | Junior |
| Monroe | Greg | Georgetown | Center | Sophomore |
| Pullen | Jacob | Kansas State | Guard | Freshman |
| Reynolds | Scottie | Villanova | Guard | Senior |
| Samhan | Omar | Saint Mary's | Center | Senior |
| Scheyer | Jon | Duke | Guard | Senior |
| Turner | Evan | Ohio State | Guard/Forward | Junior |
| Varnado | Jarvis | Mississippi State | Forward | Senior |
| Vasquez | Greivis | Maryland | Guard | Senior |
| Wall | John | Kentucky | Guard | Freshman |
Other notable Naismith Men's College Player of the Year winners include Bill Walton (UCLA), Larry Bird (Indiana State), Michael Jordan (North Carolina), Patrick Ewing (Georgetown), David Robinson (Navy), Kevin Durant (Texas) and last year's winner, Blake Griffin of Oklahoma.
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, an Atlanta Sports Council property, is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club, founded during the 1956-57 season, has presented the Naismith Trophy every year since UCLA's Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. Old Dominion's Anne Donovan won the inaugural Women's Naismith Trophy in 1983.
The Naismith Award has become the most prestigious award in all of college basketball, recognizing the Men's and Women's College Basketball Player of the Year, Men's and Women's College Basketball Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and contribution to the game.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verseSM and AT&T │DIRECTVSM brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T's Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies.
