Jaxson Robinson makes another Player of the Year Watch List

Jaxson Robinson has some high expectations on his shoulders for his final college season. Kentucky’s fifth-year guard has cracked another Player of the Year Watch List.

On Thursday, Robinson was tabbed to the 2024-25 John R. Wooden Award Top 50 Preseason Watch List, the second Player of the Year Watch List he’s made so far this season. The 6-foot-6 guard was previously named to the Naismith Player of the Year Watch List and the Julius Erving Award (nation’s best small forward) Watch List during the preseason. He was also listed as an All-SEC Third Team pick by the league’s coaches and media members.

During his first regular-season outing with Kentucky earlier this week, a 103-62 win over Wright State, Robinson posted eight points (3-6 FG), five rebounds, three assists, and one block. He combined for 43 points in the Wildcats’ two exhibition wins against Kentucky Wesleyan (19) and Minnesota State (24).

.@Robinsonjaxx has been named to the 2024-25 @WoodenAward Watch List.

📰🔗 – https://t.co/sA6bi3X0Af pic.twitter.com/06DwoiM1Lo

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 7, 2024

After spending the two previous two seasons playing for Mark Pope at BYU (which included a Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year award in 2023-24), Robinson followed his head coach to Lexington. He’s the only player on Kentucky’s roster with experience playing under Pope. Robinson averaged 14.2 points per game last season and is expected to put up similar numbers at UK.

Robinson is one of 11 SEC players to make the Watch List, joining Auburn’s Johni Broome, Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., Arkansas’ Johnell Davis, Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard, Ole Miss’ Matthew Murrell, Alabama’s Grant Nelson, Alabama’s Cliff Omoruyi, Alabama’s Mark Sears, Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV, and Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler. Only five freshmen cracked the list.

As the season rolls along, the Wooden Award will cut slowly down the list of candidates until a 15-man national ballot is revealed the week of the Elite 8. The ultimate Wooden Award winner will be announced in April.