Illinois freshman phenom Kasparas Jakucionis arrived on campus with high expectations, even months before the start of the 2024-2025 campaign. The Illini hadn't welcomed a new recruit regarded so highly into the program in quite some time,

Illinois freshman point guard Kasparas Jakucionis is on the Midseason Top 25 Watch List for the John R. Wooden Award, presented by Principal, the Los Angeles

One day after being named the Big Ten Player of the Week, Purdue point guard Braden Smith was selected as one of 25 players to the Wooden Award mid-season watch list, whittled down from 50 players named to the preseason watch list.

The Los Angeles Athletic Club named Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. to the John R. Wooden Award Men's Midseason Top 25 Watch List on Tuesday. Clayton made the Preseason Poll as well as the Midseason.