Iowa State’s Lipsey Named to Wooden Award Preseason Watch List
Iowa State senior guard Tamin Lipsey was named Tuesday to the preseason watch list for the John R. Wooden Award, presented annually to the nation’s top men’s college basketball player. He is one of 50 players selected.
The honor adds to a growing list of preseason recognition for Lipsey, who has also been named to the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Watch List presented by AXIA Time, the Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List, the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Watch List and the 10-player All-Big 12 Preseason Team.
Lipsey has helped lead the Cyclones to a 4-0 start and is the first player in Big 12 history to record at least 75 points, 20 assists and 15 steals through the first four games of a season. The only other major-conference players to reach those marks this century are Providence’s Kris Dunn (2015-16) and South Carolina’s Devan Downey (2007-08).
A semifinalist last season for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award and a finalist for the Nolan Richardson Award, Lipsey earned All-Big 12 honors for the second straight year and was named to the league’s All-Defensive Team. He broke Monté Morris’ career steals record on Feb. 22 with his 226th steal and became the 35th player in school history to score 1,000 career points on March 4 against BYU.
Lipsey is one of 26 Division I men’s players since 1947-48 to appear in at least 100 games while averaging 10.2 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals. He averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 steals last season.
The Wooden Award preseason list, selected by a national panel of college basketball experts, features returning standouts and top newcomers across the country. Purdue’s Braden Smith, UConn’s Alex Karaban and Tennessee’s Ja’Kobi Gillespie headline the veteran group, while Duke’s Cameron Boozer, Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson lead the newcomers. Kentucky, Florida and St. John’s each placed multiple players on the list.
Players not included remain eligible for the midseason and late-season lists, as well as the National Ballot, which will feature 15 finalists. This season marks the 50th anniversary of the award, with special programming planned alongside Wooden Award ambassador and inaugural winner Marques Johnson. Winners and All-Americans will be honored April 10, 2026, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
