Kellan Grady, TyTy Washington named to Wooden Award Watch List

Kentucky is one of 12 programs in the country expected to have a pair of the nation’s 50 best college basketball players.

Ahead of Tuesday night’s showdown against Duke in the Champion’s Classic, Wildcat guards Kellan Grady and TyTy Washington were named to the Wooden Award Watch List. The award is handed out annually to the nation’s top overall player.

This year’s preseason watch list spans 50 players from 12 different conferences, featuring 35 upperclassmen, 17 seniors, and nine freshmen. Players not chosen as part of the original 50 can still make the national ballot as the season progresses.

Former Wildcat Anthony Davis is the lone Kentucky player to win the award, doing so back in 2012.

It’s already been a busy preseason for Grady and Washington, who are no strangers to these preseason watch lists. Both made player of the year watch lists for the Naismith Trophy and the Lute Olsen Award. Grady was also tabbed to the Jerry West Award Preseason Watch List (nation’s top shooting guard) and the All-SEC Second-Team.

Grady has already amassed 2,000 career college points as a result of his four-year carer at Davidson. The 6-foot-5 guard is expected to step in as one of Kentucky’s most dependable scorers from the opening tip. As for Washington, the five-star freshman has quickly shown that he’s deserving of the early NIL deals and will have a great opportunity to explode as the Wildcats’ best player.

Tonight’s matchup against Duke will be a great indicator of how true those statements might be this coming season. Kentucky will battle the Blue Devils inside of Madison Square Garden around 9:30 p.m. EST.