UNLV freshman named to midseason watch lists for national awards

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

UNLV forward Anthony Bennett reacts after a score during their game against UNR Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack. UNLV won the game 66-54.

By Taylor Bern (contact)

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013 | 1:15 p.m.

UNLV freshman Anthony Bennett is in some elite company as a member of two midseason watch lists announced by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association on Thursday.

Bennett is among the 12-player lists for both the Wayman Tisdale Award, which is given to the freshman of the year, and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which is one of the awards recognizing the national player of the year. Bennett is also on the 25-player watch list for the Wooden Award, another national honor.

The freshman list contains three UCLA players, including Bishop Gorman High School graduate Shabazz Muhammad. Bennett and Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore are the only players to appear on both USBWA lists.

Bennett is averaging 18.1 points per game, which leads the Mountain West and ranks second for all freshman in the country, just behind Muhammad (18.2 ppg). Bennett also ranks fifth in the league in rebounds (8.6) and blocks (1.2) and second in field goal percentage (54.9).

The Tisdale and Robertson awards will be presented on April 15 in Oklahoma City.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or taylor.bern@lasvegassun.com. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.