University of Houston Athletics
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Marcus Sasser Named Wooden Award Finalist
3/29/2023 3:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Senior guard named to seventh All-America postseason squad following record-setting season
HOUSTON – University of Houston senior guard Marcus Sasser added another All-America honor to his trophy case when he was named to the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's All-American Team. Sasser also was named one of five finalists for the 2023 John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's National Player of the Year.
The announcement was made on ESPN2 on Thursday evening.
The Cougars' first consensus First-Team All-American since center Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984, Sasser was named to All-America First Teams by the Associated Press, National Association of Basketball Coaches and the United States Basketball Writers Association.
The Dallas native also received All-America Second-Team honors from Sporting News, Stadium and Field of 68.
This marked the second time in the last three years that a Cougar was named to an All-America Team. In 2021, guard Quentin Grimes was named to All-America Third Teams by AP, NABC, USBWA and Sporting News.
ABOUT MARCUS SASSER
After electrifying Houston fans with his decision to return for his senior season in June 2022, Sasser lived up to the preseason hype.
He led the Cougars and ranked ninth in the American Athletic Conference with 16.8 points per game and stood among the league's Top-15 leaders in assists (3.1 apg, 14th), free throw percentage (84.8, 5th), 3-point field goal percentage (38.4, 8th), 3-point field goals per game (2.7, t-4th) and assist-turnover ratio (1.95, 5th).
The Dallas native posted 13 20-point games this season, including a career-best 31 points against South Florida on Jan. 11, with a team-high 31 double-digit scoring games.
However, Sasser does far more than shoot and score for the Cougars, ranking seventh in the league with 1.6 steals per game.
Sasser became the 50th 1,000-point scorer in Houston history earlier this season and finished 15th among the Cougars' career scoring leaders with 1,458points.
He also drained 276 3-pointers on 748 attempts during his career, setting Houston records in both categories.
For his impressive efforts, Sasser was recognized as The American Player of the Year and was a unanimous choice by the league head coaches for the First Team.
2022-23 WOODEN AWARD ALL-AMERICA TEAM
* – Selected as finalist for 2022-23 Wooden Award presented by Wendy's Player of the Year
WOODEN AWARD ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
Sasser also was named one of five finalists for the 2023 John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's Men's Player of the Year joining Purdue center Edey, Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, Gonzaga forward Timme and Kansas forward Wilson.
All five players were invited to Los Angeles for the 47th annual presentation of the John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's Gala.
Voting took place from March 13-20, 2023. As insisted upon by Coach Wooden at the Award's creation 46 years ago, all players were certified by their universities as meeting or exceeding the criteria of the John R. Wooden Award.
The 47th annual John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's Men's Player of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, April 4th on SportsCenter on ESPN. The John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's Gala will honor the Men's and Women's Wooden Award winners, and will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award, this year given to Dawn Staley. The Gala will take place at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 7th.
ABOUT the JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award Program hosts the most prestigious honors in college basketball recognizing The Wooden Award Most Outstanding Player for men and women, The
Wooden Award All America Teams for men and women and the annual selection of the Wooden Award Legend of Coaching recipient. Honorees have proven to their university that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the John R. Wooden Award as set forth by Coach Wooden and the Wooden Award Steering Committee, including making progress towards graduation and maintaining at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Previous winners include Larry Bird ('79), Michael Jordan ('84), Tim Duncan ('97), Kevin Durant ('07), Candace Parker ('07; '08), Maya Moore ('09; '11), Chiney Ogwumike ('14), and last year's recipients, Aliyah Boston of South Carolina and Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed nearly one million dollars to the universities' general scholarship fund in the names of the Wooden Award All American recipients and has sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps. Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with the Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long tournament brings together Special Olympics athletes and Wooden Award All Americans and coaches in attendance. It is hosted at the Los Angeles Athletic Club during the John R. Wooden Award Weekend.
The Legends of Coaching Award will be presented to Coach Dawn Staley, the 2023 recipient, along with the Wooden Award Men's and Women's Players of the Year on April 7, 2023. For up-to-date information on the Wooden Award, please go to www.woodenaward.com and follow the Wooden Award on Facebook at www.facebook.com/woodenaward and @WoodenAward on Twitter and Instagram.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
The announcement was made on ESPN2 on Thursday evening.
The Cougars' first consensus First-Team All-American since center Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984, Sasser was named to All-America First Teams by the Associated Press, National Association of Basketball Coaches and the United States Basketball Writers Association.The Dallas native also received All-America Second-Team honors from Sporting News, Stadium and Field of 68.
This marked the second time in the last three years that a Cougar was named to an All-America Team. In 2021, guard Quentin Grimes was named to All-America Third Teams by AP, NABC, USBWA and Sporting News.
ABOUT MARCUS SASSER
After electrifying Houston fans with his decision to return for his senior season in June 2022, Sasser lived up to the preseason hype.
He led the Cougars and ranked ninth in the American Athletic Conference with 16.8 points per game and stood among the league's Top-15 leaders in assists (3.1 apg, 14th), free throw percentage (84.8, 5th), 3-point field goal percentage (38.4, 8th), 3-point field goals per game (2.7, t-4th) and assist-turnover ratio (1.95, 5th).
The Dallas native posted 13 20-point games this season, including a career-best 31 points against South Florida on Jan. 11, with a team-high 31 double-digit scoring games.
However, Sasser does far more than shoot and score for the Cougars, ranking seventh in the league with 1.6 steals per game.
Sasser became the 50th 1,000-point scorer in Houston history earlier this season and finished 15th among the Cougars' career scoring leaders with 1,458points.
He also drained 276 3-pointers on 748 attempts during his career, setting Houston records in both categories.
For his impressive efforts, Sasser was recognized as The American Player of the Year and was a unanimous choice by the league head coaches for the First Team.
2022-23 WOODEN AWARD ALL-AMERICA TEAM
| * Marcus Sasser | Houston | Guard | Senior |
| * Zach Edey | Purdue | Center | Junior |
| * Trayce Jackson-Davis | Indiana | Forward | Senior |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | UCLA | Guard/Forward | Senior |
| Brandon Miller | Alabama | Forward | Freshman |
| Jalen Pickett | Penn State | Guard | Senior |
| * Drew Timme | Gonzaga | Forward | Senior |
| Oscar Tshiebwe | Kentucky | Forward | Senior |
| Azuolas Tubelis | Arizona | Forward | Junior |
| Jalen Wilson | Kansas | Forward | r-Junior |
WOODEN AWARD ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
Sasser also was named one of five finalists for the 2023 John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's Men's Player of the Year joining Purdue center Edey, Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, Gonzaga forward Timme and Kansas forward Wilson.
All five players were invited to Los Angeles for the 47th annual presentation of the John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's Gala.
Voting took place from March 13-20, 2023. As insisted upon by Coach Wooden at the Award's creation 46 years ago, all players were certified by their universities as meeting or exceeding the criteria of the John R. Wooden Award.
The 47th annual John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's Men's Player of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, April 4th on SportsCenter on ESPN. The John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy's Gala will honor the Men's and Women's Wooden Award winners, and will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award, this year given to Dawn Staley. The Gala will take place at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 7th.
ABOUT the JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award Program hosts the most prestigious honors in college basketball recognizing The Wooden Award Most Outstanding Player for men and women, The
Wooden Award All America Teams for men and women and the annual selection of the Wooden Award Legend of Coaching recipient. Honorees have proven to their university that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the John R. Wooden Award as set forth by Coach Wooden and the Wooden Award Steering Committee, including making progress towards graduation and maintaining at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Previous winners include Larry Bird ('79), Michael Jordan ('84), Tim Duncan ('97), Kevin Durant ('07), Candace Parker ('07; '08), Maya Moore ('09; '11), Chiney Ogwumike ('14), and last year's recipients, Aliyah Boston of South Carolina and Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed nearly one million dollars to the universities' general scholarship fund in the names of the Wooden Award All American recipients and has sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps. Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with the Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long tournament brings together Special Olympics athletes and Wooden Award All Americans and coaches in attendance. It is hosted at the Los Angeles Athletic Club during the John R. Wooden Award Weekend.
The Legends of Coaching Award will be presented to Coach Dawn Staley, the 2023 recipient, along with the Wooden Award Men's and Women's Players of the Year on April 7, 2023. For up-to-date information on the Wooden Award, please go to www.woodenaward.com and follow the Wooden Award on Facebook at www.facebook.com/woodenaward and @WoodenAward on Twitter and Instagram.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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