Another Title for Battier

By CHRIS DUFRESNE

April 7, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

His last shot in college was a slam dunk--and so was winning his last major award.

Capping one of the most well-rounded and remarkable careers in college basketball history, 6-foot-8 senior forward Shane Battier of Duke won the 25th John R. Wooden Award, presented Friday at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

“Winning the Wooden Award a week after the national championship is truly the perfect way to end my career,” Battier said. “It’s fitting we’re near Hollywood.”

Battier, with 4,892 votes, finished ahead of teammate Jason Williams, who had 3,764. North Carolina guard Joseph Forte finished third with 2,899, followed by Stanford guard Casey Jacobsen with 2,831 and forward Troy Murphy of Notre Dame with 2,768.

Forte was the only finalist who did not attend, although he was represented by Coach Matt Doherty. A Wooden Award spokesperson said Forte was not there because of personal reasons. Doherty claimed Forte stayed behind because he did not want to miss additional class time.

John Wooden, the legendary former UCLA coach for whom the award is named, said Battier is one of the most deserving recipients in the award’s 25-year history.

“He ranks with one other,” Wooden said. “David Robinson.”

Robinson, the former Navy star, won the award in 1987.

“I look at both of them the same,” Wooden said of Battier and Robinson. “Both were well-rounded in all aspects, on the court and off. And I’m always happy when a graduating senior gets it.”

Battier was the only senior among this year’s finalists. Jacobsen, Williams and Forte are sophomores, while Murphy is a junior.

Battier, who led Duke to the national title with an 82-72 victory over Arizona Monday, is going to need a warehouse to store his awards.

He has already earned national player-of-the-year honors from the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, the Sporting News and Basketball Times. Battier has won the Naismith Award and, on Thursday, received the first Atlantic Coast Conference award for student-athletic excellence.

Battier is a three-time Academic All-American and three-time national defensive player of the year.

Battier boasts a 3.43 grade-point average and will graduate next month with a degree in religion, although many have speculated that Battier will end up in politics, some Duke fans already touting him as a presidential candidate in 2016.

Battier joked Friday that, if elected, he would appoint his coach, Mike Krzyzewski, as ambassador to Tahiti.

Since Duke won the NCAA championship, Battier said he has slept a total of “15 or 16 hours.”

When he returned to Durham, N.C., on Tuesday, the front porch of his apartment was strewn with crepe paper and confetti.

Before he ponders his future, which will certainly include a lengthy stay in the NBA, Battier said he wanted to rest.

He accomplished every goal he set at Duke. He averaged 19.9 points and 7.3 rebounds this season and had 43 points and 19 rebounds in Final Four wins over Maryland and Arizona.

In his acceptance speech, Battier honored Krzyzewski.

“Coach, you’ve been a father, a coach and a brother on so many different levels,” Battier said.

Battier also thanked his parents, who were not in attendance.

“Everything I’ve done on the court and off the court has been to honor them,” he said.

As part of ceremonies, Arizona Coach Lute Olson was presented with the third “Legends of Coaching” award, joining previous winners Dean Smith and Krzyzewski.

An emotional Olson, coming off a season in which his wife, Bobbi, died of cancer, said he had received many honors in his coaching lifetime.

“But to have one with John Wooden’s name on it is really, really special,” he said.

The big question among the four other Wooden finalists is whether they would return to college next year or declare for the NBA draft.

Williams, who would be the odds-on favorite to win next year’s Wooden Award, has said he is returning for his junior season.

But he left some wiggle room Friday when asked if he was coming back, saying, “I think so.”

The 6-2 point guard could be the top collegiate pick in the NBA’s June draft, if he came out early.

Underclassmen have until May 14 to declare. Players can then withdraw their names from consideration a week before the June 27 draft so long as they don’t sign with an agent.

Jacobsen, Stanford’s first first-team Associated Press All-American, has stated he will return for his junior year.

Forte and Murphy have not yet made decisions.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Wooden Award

2001 PLAYER OF THE YEAR

*--*

Pos. Name School Ht. Cl. F Shane Battier Duke 6-8 Sr.

*--*

OTHER ALL-AMERICAN TEAM MEMBERS

*--*

Pos. Name School Ht. Cl. G Charlie Bell Michigan State 6-3 Sr. F Casey Calvary Gonzaga 6-8 Sr. F Jarron Collins Stanford 6-11 Sr. G Joseph Forte* North Carolina 6-4 So. G Casey Jacobsen* Stanford 6-6 So. F Troy Murphy* Notre Dame 6-11 Jr. F Tayshaun Prince Kentucky 6-9 Jr G Frank Williams Illinois 6-3 So. G Jason Williams* Duke 6-2 So.

*--*

* Finalists for player of the year

PREVIOUS PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR WINNERS

1977--Marques Johnson, UCLA

1978--Phil Ford, North Carolina

1979--Larry Bird, Indiana State

1980--Darrell Griffith, Louisville

1981--Danny Ainge, BYU

1982--Ralph Sampson, Virginia

1983--Ralph Sampson, Virginia

1984--Michael Jordan, N. Carolina

1985--Chris Mullin, St. John’s