Oct. 24, 2007

LOS ANGELES - USC sophomore forward Taj Gibson has been selected as one of the 50 preseason candidates for the Wooden Award All-American Team and for the Naismith Trophy, according to the Los Angeles Athletic Club's Wooden Award Committee and the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

The lists are composed of 50 returning student-athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the early front-runners for college basketball's coveted trophies. Transfers, freshmen and medical redshirts are not eligible for this preseason list, but will be evaluated and considered for inclusion later in the season.

Gibson was a 2006-07 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team selection as he averaged 12.2 points and 8.7 rebounds, while starting every game and helping lead USC to the NCAA's Sweet 16. Gibson set the USC freshman records for rebounds (321) and blocked shots (69) and finished the season ranked among USC's all-time freshman top five in free throws attempted, free throws made, points, field goal percentage and rebound average.

The athletic forward was selected to the 2007 Pac-10 Conference All-Tournament Team, as he scored 36 points and grabbed 29 rebounds in the three games. Gibson also scored 51 points and had 34 rebounds in the three NCAA Tournament games.

In January, the Wooden Award committee will release the Midseason Top 30 list, followed by the distribution of the National Ballot to more than 1,000 voters in early March. the 10-player Wooden Award All-American team will be announced the Tuesday after the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament is completed.

Also in January, the Naismith Trophy voting academy will narrow its preseason list to the Top 30 players in the nation. Those players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March. Beginning in mid-February, CBS' "AT&T at the Half" will feature a weekly Naismith Trophy update highlighting the players in contention. In April, the Naismith Trophy winner will be recognized at the NCAA Men's Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.