Hansbrough, Parker win Wooden Awards

Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina’s junior center, and Candace Parker, Tennessee’s junior forward, were named winners of the 2008 John R. Wooden Award as college basketball’s male and female players of the year at a ceremony hosted by the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday night.

Parker led Tennessee to its second straight national title Tuesday and then was made the No. 1 overall pick by the Sparks in the WNBA draft Wednesday. Parker also won the Wooden Award last year. She averaged 20.6 points and 8.8 rebounds a game and finished her career with 44 consecutive double-doubles. She is also expected to play for the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing in August.

Hansbrough led the Tar Heels to the Final Four. He averaged 22.6 points and 10.6 rebounds a game and shot 54% from the field.

Voting was conducted through the weekend of the NCAA Elite Eight. Players had to maintain a 2.0 grade-point average to be eligible.

Joining Hansbrough in the top five of the men’s voting were UCLA freshman Kevin Love, Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley, Davidson sophomore Stephen Curry and Texas sophomore D.J. Augustin. Also making the Wooden All-America team were Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose of Memphis, Luke Harangody of Notre Dame, Chris Lofton of Tennessee and Brandon Rush of Kansas.

The other four women’s finalists were Courtney Paris of Oklahoma, Candice Wiggins of Stanford, Sylvia Fowles of Louisiana State and Maya Moore of Connecticut.

Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt received the John R. Wooden Award Legends of Coaching honor. She is the first female coach to be honored.

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Diane Pucin