University of Houston Athletics
Cryer, Roberts Named to John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List
11/6/2024 8:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Cougars are one of eight schools with multiple student-athletes on prestigious list
HOUSTON – University of Houston graduate stars LJ Cryer and J'Wan Roberts collected additional preseason honors when they were named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List on Thursday afternoon.
Roberts and Cryer were two of 50 student-athletes from NCAA Division I schools across the nation to be named to the list, which was chosen in a preseason poll by national college basketball experts.
Houston was one of eight schools with multiple student-athletes named to the list, joining Kansas (4), Baylor (3), Alabama (3), Rutgers (2), Gonzaga (2), UConn (2) and Duke (2),
These were the latest preseason honors for Roberts and Cryer. Both were named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List presented by Axia Time and were selected as Preseason All-Americans by Blue Ribbon College Yearbook with Roberts receiving Third-Team recognition and Cryer receiving Fourth-Team accolades.
Both also were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Conference First Team, making Houston the only school with multiple honorees.
Roberts was named to the Karl Malone Award Top 20 Preseason Watch List with that honor going to the nation's top collegiate power forward.
Cryer was one of 20 student-athletes named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year Preseason Watch List and was named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List.
Roberts and Cryer each played key roles in Houston's season-opening win over Jackson State inside Fertitta Center on Monday. Roberts finished with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and grabbed six rebounds with three steals while Cryer led all players with 16 points, thanks to four 3-pointers.
ABOUT J'WAN ROBERTS
A four-year letterman, Roberts has been a leader in the Houston frontcourt for years.
The St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, native led Houston and finished sixth in the Big 12 with 6.8 rebounds per game and was one of only three student-athletes to rank among the league's Top-10 leaders in both offensive and defensive rebounding.
Roberts tallied four double-doubles and led the Cougars with six double-digit rebounding performances on the way to receiving All-Big 12 Third-Team honors.
As he enters the 2024-25 season, Roberts ranks among Houston's Top-10 career leaders in wins, games played and rebounds and is poised to set school records in the first two categories. He could become only the fourth student-athlete in Houston history to record 1,000 points AND 1,000 rebounds during his career.
ABOUT LJ CRYER
Competing in his first season with the Cougars a year ago, Cryer led Houston and finished fifth in the Big 12 with 15.5 points per game.
The Katy, Texas, native was one of only three Cougars to start all 37 games in 2023-24 and led Houston and the league with 3.0 3-point field goals per game.
Cryer paced Houston with 13 20-point games and 27 double-digit performances, including a season-high 26 points against rv/– Texas inside Fertitta Center on Feb. 17.
For his impressive efforts, Cryer was named an All-America Honorable Mention by the United States Basketball Writers Association and was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team by the league and the Associated Press.
Cryer also received National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 8 Second-Team recognition and was named the Shriners Children's Charleston Classic Most Valuable Player.
2024-25 JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD PRESEASON TOP 50 WATCH LIST presented by PRINCIPAL
BUY 2024-25 TICKETS
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
UP NEXT
Cryer, Roberts and the Cougars meet #11/11 Auburn during the Mattress Firm Battleground 2k24 inside Toyota Center on Saturday.
The Cougars will be the second game of a doubleheader inside Toyota Center in downtown Houston beginning at 8:30 p.m., with Rice facing Florida State at 6 p.m., in the first game.
Fans can purchase tickets for the Mattress Firm Battleground 2k24 by clicking here.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
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.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X, formerly known as 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.
Roberts and Cryer were two of 50 student-athletes from NCAA Division I schools across the nation to be named to the list, which was chosen in a preseason poll by national college basketball experts.
Houston was one of eight schools with multiple student-athletes named to the list, joining Kansas (4), Baylor (3), Alabama (3), Rutgers (2), Gonzaga (2), UConn (2) and Duke (2),
These were the latest preseason honors for Roberts and Cryer. Both were named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List presented by Axia Time and were selected as Preseason All-Americans by Blue Ribbon College Yearbook with Roberts receiving Third-Team recognition and Cryer receiving Fourth-Team accolades.
Both also were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Conference First Team, making Houston the only school with multiple honorees.
Roberts was named to the Karl Malone Award Top 20 Preseason Watch List with that honor going to the nation's top collegiate power forward.
Cryer was one of 20 student-athletes named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year Preseason Watch List and was named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List.
Roberts and Cryer each played key roles in Houston's season-opening win over Jackson State inside Fertitta Center on Monday. Roberts finished with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and grabbed six rebounds with three steals while Cryer led all players with 16 points, thanks to four 3-pointers.
ABOUT J'WAN ROBERTSA four-year letterman, Roberts has been a leader in the Houston frontcourt for years.
The St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, native led Houston and finished sixth in the Big 12 with 6.8 rebounds per game and was one of only three student-athletes to rank among the league's Top-10 leaders in both offensive and defensive rebounding.
Roberts tallied four double-doubles and led the Cougars with six double-digit rebounding performances on the way to receiving All-Big 12 Third-Team honors.
As he enters the 2024-25 season, Roberts ranks among Houston's Top-10 career leaders in wins, games played and rebounds and is poised to set school records in the first two categories. He could become only the fourth student-athlete in Houston history to record 1,000 points AND 1,000 rebounds during his career.
ABOUT LJ CRYERCompeting in his first season with the Cougars a year ago, Cryer led Houston and finished fifth in the Big 12 with 15.5 points per game.
The Katy, Texas, native was one of only three Cougars to start all 37 games in 2023-24 and led Houston and the league with 3.0 3-point field goals per game.
Cryer paced Houston with 13 20-point games and 27 double-digit performances, including a season-high 26 points against rv/– Texas inside Fertitta Center on Feb. 17.
For his impressive efforts, Cryer was named an All-America Honorable Mention by the United States Basketball Writers Association and was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team by the league and the Associated Press.
Cryer also received National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 8 Second-Team recognition and was named the Shriners Children's Charleston Classic Most Valuable Player.
2024-25 JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD PRESEASON TOP 50 WATCH LIST presented by PRINCIPAL
| Name | Class | Position | School | Conference |
| LJ Cryer | Graduate | Guard | Houston | Big 12 |
| J'Wan Roberts | Graduate | Guard | Houston | Big 12 |
| KJ Adams | Senior | Forward | Kansas | Big 12 |
| Robbie Avila | Junior | Center | Saint Louis | Atlantic 10 |
| Airious "Ace" Bailey | Freshman | Guard/Forward | Rutgers | Big Ten |
| Adrian "Ace" Baldwin Jr. | Graduate | Guard | Penn State | Big Ten |
| Oumar Ballo | Senior | Center | Indiana | Big Ten |
| Johni Broome | Senior | Forward/Center | Auburn | SEC |
| Walter Clayton Jr. | Senior | Guard | Florida | SEC |
| Johnell Davis | Senior | Guard | Arkansas | SEC |
| RJ Davis | Graduate | Guard | North Carolina | ACC |
| Tyson Degenart | Senior | Forward | Boise State | Mountain West |
| Hunter Dickinson | Graduate | Center | Kansas | Big 12 |
| Eric Dixon | Graduate | Forward | Villanova | Big East |
| VJ Edgecombe | Freshman | Guard | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Cooper Flagg | Freshman | Guard/Forward | Duke | ACC |
| Dawson Garcia | Senior | Forward | Minnesota | Big Ten |
| Dylan Harper | Freshman | Guard | Rutgers | Big Ten |
| Dajuan Harris | Graduate | Guard | Kansas | Big 12 |
| Coleman Hawkins | Senior | Wing | Kansas State | Big 12 |
| Bryce Hopkins | Senior | Forward/Guard | Providence | Big East |
| Josh Hubbard | Sophomore | Guard | Mississippi State | SEC |
| Graham Ike | Senior | Forward | Gonzaga | West Coast |
| Kam Jones | Senior | Guard | Marquette | Big East |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | Senior | Center | Creighton | Big East |
| Alex Karaban | Junior | Forward | UConn | Big East |
| Yaxel Lendeborg | Senior | Forward | UAB | American Athletic |
| Tamin Lipsey | Junior | Guard | Iowa State | Big 12 |
| Caleb Love | Fifth Year | Guard | Arizona | Big 12 |
| Augusta Marciulionis | Senior | Guard | Saint Mary's (Calif.) | West Coast |
| Liam McNeeley | Freshman | Forward | UConn | Big East |
| Matthew Murrell | Senior | Guard | Mississippi | SEC |
| Grant Nelson | Graduate | Forward | Alabama | SEC |
| Ryan Nembhard | Senior | Guard | Gonzaga | West Coast |
| Norchad Omier | Fifth Year | Forward | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Cliff Omoruyi | Graduate | Center | Alabama | SEC |
| Great Osobor | Senior | Forward | Washington | Big Ten |
| Tyrese Proctor | Junior | Guard | Duke | ACC |
| Kadary Richmond | Junior | Guard | Duke | ACC |
| Jeremy Roach | Fifth Year | Guard | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Jaxson Robinson | Graduate | Guard | Kentucky | SEC |
| Hunter Sallis | Senior | Guard | Wake Forest | ACC |
| Payton Sandifort | Senior | Forward | Iowa | Big Ten |
| Mark Sears | Graduate | Guard | Alabama | SEC |
| Braden Smith | Junior | Guard | Purdue | Big Ten |
| AJ Storr | Junior | Guard | Kansas | Big 12 |
| Wade Taylor IV | Graduate | Guard | Texas A&M | SEC |
| Bruce Thornton | Junior | Guard | Ohio State | Big Ten |
| Zakai Zeigler | Senior | Guard | Tennessee | SEC |
BUY 2024-25 TICKETS
Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.
UP NEXT
Cryer, Roberts and the Cougars meet #11/11 Auburn during the Mattress Firm Battleground 2k24 inside Toyota Center on Saturday.
The Cougars will be the second game of a doubleheader inside Toyota Center in downtown Houston beginning at 8:30 p.m., with Rice facing Florida State at 6 p.m., in the first game.
Fans can purchase tickets for the Mattress Firm Battleground 2k24 by clicking here.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective – and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
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.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X, formerly known as 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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