The 2008-09 preseason candidates for the John R. Wooden Award All-America Team and Player of the Year trophy were announced Friday and include Tennessee junior Tyler Smith.

The list is made up of 50 student-athletes who, based on last season’s individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for one of college basketball’s most prestigious honor.

Smith averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game last season while helping lead the Vols to a Southeastern Conference championship and the NCAA?Sweet Sixteen. The Pulaski, Tenn., native was a first-team All-SEC selection last season and has garnered preseason SEC?Player of the Year honors from numerous publications as well as a panel of SEC?and national media this year.

Smith was one of 24 players to appear on the final ballot for last season’s Wooden Award. Other returning players from last year’s ballot are North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough, Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody, Davidson’s Stephen Curry, UCLA’s Darren Collison, Connecticut’s A.J. Price and Robbie Hummel of Purdue.

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