The list is comprised of 30 student-athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball’s most prestigious honor. The list is chosen by a preseason poll of national college women’s basketball media members.
“This is a great honor for Justine and the University of Dayton women’s basketball program,” said UD Head Coach Jim Jabir. “I think it says a lot about our program and how far we’ve come. Justine would be the first to tell you she couldn’t have achieved this by herself.
“She has worked so hard to overcome a tough injury,” he added. “This recognition demonstrates how she has represented herself and the University in a high level that last three years.”
Raterman is the only representative from the Atlantic 10 – and she is the first Dayton player – to be named to the Women’s Wooden Award watch list.
The 6-foot-1 senior has averaged 14.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game over her three seasons at Dayton. The two-time captain has led the Flyers in scoring all three years and in that time she is responsible for 19.9 percent of UD’s scoring. She was a First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection as a junior and has been named to the A-10 All-Championship team for three consecutive tournaments.
She has helped the Flyers to three consecutive postseason appearances, including two straight NCAA at-large berths. During her career the Flyers have also won 20+ games in each season.
Transfers, freshmen and medical redshirts are not eligible for the preseason list. These players and others who excel throughout the season will be evaluated and considered for December’s midseason list and the official voting ballot released in March. The national ballot consists of approximately 20 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA. The Wooden Award All-American Team, consisting of the nation’s top 10 players, will be announced the week before the Final Four.
The 36th annual Wooden Award ceremony, held the weekend of April 9-11, 2012, will honor the men's and women's Wooden Award winners. It will also include the presentation of the Wooden Award All-American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award.
About the John R. Wooden Award
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation’s best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird (’79), Michael Jordan (’84), Tim Duncan (’97), Candace Parker (’07 and ’08) and Maya Moore of Connecticut (’09 and ‘11). UConn’s Maya Moore (’11) won the women’s Award in 2011.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed close to a million dollars to universities’ general scholarship fund in the names of the All-American recipients. The Award has also sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps in the Award’s name. Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long tournament, which brings together Special Olympic athletes and the All Americans, takes place at The Los Angeles Athletic Club the weekend of the John R. Wooden Award Ceremony.
Follow the candidates and get the latest news throughout the season by logging on to www.WoodenAward.com.
