Cincinnati’s Martin Honored

Kenyon Martin, who carried Cincinnati to a No. 1 ranking for much of the college basketball season, couldn’t even carry the John R. Wooden Award he received for his efforts.

Martin, named the player of the year after averaging 18.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.4 blocked shots this season, needed crutches to walk to the podium at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

He broke a bone in his right leg in a game against St. Louis in the first round of the Conference USA tournament.

That ended his senior season and cost the Bearcats a likely No. 1 seeding in the NCAA tournament. The Bearcats were seeded second in the South region and lost to Tulsa in the second round.

Martin was selected in a poll of 1,047 sportswriters and broadcasters.

The other finalists were Iowa State forward Marcus Fizer, Michigan State guard Mateen Cleaves, Indiana guard A.J. Guyton and Duke forward Shane Battier.

In the top 10 and on the Wooden All-American team were Duke forward Chris Carrawell, Stanford forward Mark Madsen, Texas center Chris Mihm, Notre Dame forward Troy Murphy and Michigan State forward Morris Peterson.

“It’s a great honor to be on a list with all of the players on the list,” Martin said. “For them to pick me, it’s an honor.”

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski received the Legends of Coaching Award.

Martin is a strong candidate to become the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. The Clippers are strong candidates to win the draft lottery and select first.

Last year’s Wooden Award winner, Elton Brand of Duke, was taken with the first draft pick by the Chicago Bulls.

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Wooden Award

1999

Elton Brand, Duke

1998

Antawn Jamison, North Carolina

1997

Tim Duncan, Wake Forest

1996

Marcus Camby, Massachusetts

1995

Ed O’Bannon, UCLA

1994

Glenn Robinson, Purdue

1993

Calbert Cheaney, Indiana

1992

Christian Laettner, Duke

1991

Larry Johnson, Nevada Las Vegas

1990

Lionel Simmons, La Salle

1989

Sean Elliott, Arizona

1988

Danny Manning, Kansas

1987

David Robinson, Navy

1986

Walter Berry, St. John’s

1985

Chris Mullin, St. John’s

1984

Michael Jordan, North Carolina

1983

Ralph Sampson, Virginia

1982

Ralph Sampson, Virginia

1981

Danny Ainge, Brigham Young

1980

Darryl Griffith, Louisville

1979

Larry Bird, Indiana State

1978

Phil Ford, North Carolina

1977

Marques Johnson, UCLA

2000 VOTING

1. Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati

4,365 points

2. Marcus Fizer, Iowa State

2,993

3. Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State

2,296

4. Shane Battier, Duke

1,990

5. A.J. Guyton, Indiana

1,831

6. Troy Murphy, Notre Dame

1,446

7. Chris Carrawell, Duke

1,407

8. Morris Peterson, Michigan State

1,274

9. Chris Mihm, Texas

1,160