Kentucky guard Jodie Meek was among three Southeastern Conference players selected to a 30-man list of mid-season candidates for the 2009 Naismith Award, which goes to the national player of the year.
The other two SEC players on the list are Florida guard Nick Calathes and South Carolina guard Devan Downey.
Here’s the list of 30 mid-season candidates as voted by a panel of journalists.
2009 Naismith Men’s Mid-Season Candidates
Last First Class Position School
Abrams A.J. Sr. Guard Texas
Adrien Jeff Sr. Forward Connecticut
Blair DeJuan So. Center Pittsburgh
Booker Trevor Jr. Forward/Center Clemson
Brockman Jon Sr. Forward Washington
Calathes Nick So. Guard/Forward Florida
Christmas Dionte Sr. Guard Temple
Clark Earl Jr. Guard/Forward Louisville
Collins Sherron Jr. Guard Kansas
Curry Stephen Jr. Guard Davidson
Downey Devan Jr. Guard South Carolina
Griffin Blake So. Forward Oklahoma
Hansbrough Tyler Sr. Forward North Carolina
Harangody Luke Jr. Forward Notre Dame
Harden James So. Guard Arizona State
Henderson Gerald Sr. Forward Duke
Hummel Robbie So. Guard/Forward Purdue
Johnson James So. Forward Wake Forest
Lawson Ty Jr. Guard North Carolina
Maynor Eric Sr. Guard Virginia Commonwealth
McClinton Jack Sr. Guard Miami
McNeal Jerel Sr. Guard Marquette
Meeks Jodie Jr. Guard Kentucky
Mills Patrick So. Guard Saint Mary’s
Rice Tyrese Sr. Guard Boston College
Singler Kyle So. Forward Duke
Teague Jeff So. Guard Wake Forest
Thabeet Hasheem Jr. Center Connecticut
Williams Terrence Sr. Forward Louisville
Young Sam Sr. Forward Pittsburgh
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
