To say that Louisville native D’Angelo Russell had a fabulous freshman year for the Ohio State University men’s basketball would be an understatement. A big one.
He had spectacular season, filled with spectacular plays and accomplishments.
Russell, who attended Central High School as a freshman before transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida, was named a first-team Associated Press All-American and a finalist for the 2015 John R. Wooden Award on Monday.
Russell, a 6-foot-5 point guard, averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5 assists per game (all team highs) while shooting 44.9 percent from the field - including 41.1 percent from 3-point range - and 75.6 percent from the free throw line for the Buckeyes. He set Ohio State freshman records for points (675) and made 3-pointers (95) as he started all of the team’s 35 games, including the Buckeyes’ 73-58 season-ending loss to Arizona in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
Russell previously garnered All-American honors from the Sporting News, the United State Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
Russell, the 12th consensus All-American in Ohio State hoops history (Jared Sullinger was the last one in 2012), is one of five finalists for the Wooden Award, the national player of the year award named in honor of the legendary UCLA coach.
Russell was joined on the AP first team by Kentucky junior center Willie Cauley-Stein, Wisconsin senior forward-center Frank Kaminsky, Duke freshman center Jahlil Okafor and Notre Dame senior guard Jerian Grant. Those five were also the same five invited to the Wooden Award ceremony, which will take place April 10 in Los Angeles.
“From the first time I began recruiting (D’Angelo), meeting him, then getting him to campus, he’s a very mature young man,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said before the Buckeyes’ second-round game against VCU. “I think from the standpoint of how he views things, you know, the success that he’s had this year, he didn’t see it coming. We thought for sure he would be kind of a two-year type guy. But I think that’s why he’s been so successful, because he doesn’t let that get in his head.”
It’s unlikely, however, that Russell will be a two-year player at OSU. He’s projected as a Top 5 pick in this summer’s NBA Draft.
Photo courtesy Ohio State University Men’s Basketball Facebook Page
