News

USBWA Selects Ohio State's Turner as Player of the Year

March 22, 2010

ST. LOUIS (USBWA) - The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Ohio State guard/forward Evan Turner as the winner of the 2009-10 Oscar Robertson Trophy, annually presented to the National Player of the Year.

The 6-7, 210-pound junior from Chicago, ILL., was the consensus choice by voters in all nine geographical districts of the USBWA.  Turner becomes the first national player of the year from Ohio State since Jerry Lucas won his second USDWA Player of the Year award in 1962.  Turner is also the first Big Ten Player to win the honor since Purdue’s Glenn Robinson in 1994.

Turner will be presented with the Oscar Robertson Trophy by its namesake Oscar Robertson at the USBWA’s annual College Basketball Awards Breakfast on Friday, April 2, 2010 at 8 a.m. at The Columbia Club downtown Indianapolis in conjunction with the NCAA Men’s Final four.  For tickets to the awards breakfast, visit usbwa.com

Turner, a first-team USBWA District V Player of the Year, was chosen the national player of the year from a field of 16 finalists.  The Big Ten Player of the Year has the led Buckeyes (29-7) to the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships and into the Midwest Regional in St. Louis, where they face Tennessee on Friday.

“I think he’s very deserving.” Ohio State’s coach Thad Matta said.  “I am very proud of what he’s done, the work he’s done to put himself in opposition to win the award is something that’s truly amazing.  He’s one of the most multi-dimensional players in the country.  He has ability to score the basketball, drive it, get to the foul line, and shoot threes.  His passing makes everyone on the floor that much better.”

Despite missing six games due to injury early in the season, Turner led the Big Ten in scoring and rebounding.  Including his two NCAA Tournament games, Turner is averaging 20.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.  He was second in the conference in assists and steals.  Turner was also third in the conference in field-goal percentage and 14th in free-throw percentage.  He has recorded two triple-doubles and 16 double-doubles this season.