Three Blue Devils Named Wayman Tisdale Finalists

DURHAM, N.C. -- Three Duke freshmen, Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow, appear among the list of 10 finalists for this year's Integris Wayman Tisdale Award, the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) announced Monday afternoon. The award recipient is selected by members of the association's board of directors, as the honor recognizes the national freshman of the year.

The association will announce the winner of the 2015 Integris Wayman Tisdale Award on Monday, March 16, and the recipient of the honor will receive the award on April 14 at the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards, held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

Okafor is joined by Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell in being named both a national freshman of the year finalist and national player of the year finalist. Duke is the only team to have three freshman named to the finalist list.

Okafor has excelled during his freshman campaign in Durham, nearly averaging a double-double with 18.2 ppg. and 9.6 rpg. in his 28 appearances this season. In 15 conference games this year, Okafor is averaging a double-double, with 17.8 ppg. and 10.2 rpg. The Chicago, Ill., native ranks among the nation's leaders in a number of categories this season, including field goal percentage (.663 - 2nd) and offensive rebounds (4.25 orpg. - 5th), and ranks as the nation's second-highest scoring freshman with his 18.2 ppg. average.

Jones has thrived at the point guard position for Duke, averaging 5.7 apg. and owning an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.70:1. Jones' contributions have also gone beyond assisting other scorers, as he has recorded 16 double-digit scoring games of his own and is averaging 11.4 ppg. this year. Jones has also guided Duke to a 6-1 record against nationally ranked opponents this season, averaging 16.3 ppg., 5.3 apg., a 3.70:1 assist-to-turnover ratio and 3.7 rpg., in those seven contests.

Winslow has returned to early-season form over his last 10 games, averaging 15.8 ppg. and 8.2 rpg., while shooting 13-of-26 (.500) from beyond the three-point line over the stretch. On the season, the Houston, Texas, native is among Duke's top three in numerous categories, including three-point field goal percentage (.393 - 2nd), field goals made (126 - 3rd), field goal percentage (.468 - 3rd), offensive rebounds (35 - 3rd), defensive rebounds (134 - 2nd), assists per game (1.9 - 3rd), blocks (23 - 2nd), steals (31 - 3rd) and rebounds per game (5.8 - 3rd).

The USBWA has selected a national freshman of the year since the 1988-89 season. Last year, former Blue Devil Jabari Parker earned the Wayman Tisdale Award, with other notable freshman of the year honorees including Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd and Chris Webber.

James Blackmon Jr., Indiana
Devin Booker, Kentucky
Stanley Johnson, Arizona
Tyus Jones, Duke
Jahlil Okafor, Duke
Kelly Oubre Jr., Kansas
D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State
Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
Melo Trimble, Maryland
Justise Winslow, Duke

By conference: ACC (3); Big Ten (3); SEC (2); Big 12 (1); Pac-12 (1).

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