Oct. 20, 2011

STORRS, Conn. - It was announced today by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association that UConn freshman center Andre Drummond (Middletown, Conn.) has been selected to the Wayman Tisdale Award Preseason Watch List. The Wayman Tisdale Award is presented to the nation's top freshman.

Drummond, who was recently named the BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year and Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention, is one of 12 players selected to the preseason watch list. Drummond is one of three players representing the BIG EAST Conference. Pittsburgh forward Khem Birch and Louisville forward Chane Behanan are also freshmen to watch this season.

About the Wayman Tisdale Award Watch List: The USBWA has chosen a national freshman of the year since the 1988-89 season when LSU's Chris Jackson was the recipient. Other previous winners of the award include Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd and Chris Webber. Last season, Ohio State's Jared Sullinger won the inaugural Wayman Tisdale Award.

The Tisdale Award winner will receive a statuette designed by nationally-recognized sculptor Shan Gray. A permanent Wayman Tisdale Award is on display at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

2011-12 WAYMAN TISDALE AWARD WATCH LIST

Bradley Beal, Florida (G, 6-3, 207, Fr., St. Louis, Mo.)
Chane Behanan, Louisville (F, 6-6, 245, Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio)
Khem Birch, Pittsburgh (F, 6-9, 220, Fr., Montreal, Quebec)
Anthony Davis, Kentucky (F, 6-10, 220, Fr., Chicago, Ill.)
Andre Drummond, Connecticut (C, 6-10, 270, Fr., Middletown, Conn.)
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky (F, 6-7, 232, Fr., Somerdale, N.J.)
Le'Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State (G/F, 6-7, 230, Fr., Dallas, Texas)
Austin Rivers, Duke (G, 6-4, 200, Fr., Winter Park, Fla.)
Marquis Teague, Kentucky (G, 6-2, 189, Fr., Indianapolis, Ind.)
Adonis Thomas, Memphis (F/G, 6-6, 222, Fr., Memphis, Tenn.)
Josiah Turner, Arizona (G, 6-3, 192, Fr., Sacramento, Calif.)
Cody Zeller, Indiana (F, 6-11, 230, Fr., Washington, Ind.)