Pitt senior Brandin Knight, who emerged as one of the top point guards in the nation last season, has been named to the Wooden Award Preseason All-America Team.
The list includes 50 players who, based on last season’s performance, are considered frontrunners for the John R. Wooden Award, which is given to the top basketball player in the country each year.
Knight, who hails from East Orange, N.J., was also named to the 10-person Playboy All-America Team earlier in the summer.
"This is an outstanding honor for Brandin," said Pitt head coach Ben Howland, the 2002 consensus national coach of the year. “It speaks highly of his hard work and commitment to our team and his dedication to being a great leader and a winner."
Knight averaged 15.6 points and 7.2 assists per game last season and earned All-America third team honors. He was also named the Big East Co-Player of the Year with UConn’s Caron Butler as well as the conference’s Most Improved Player.
Knight helped lead the Panthers to a 29-6 mark and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. Pitt, who won the Big East West division, also advanced to the Big East championship game before falling to UConn in double overtime.
The team finished ninth in both the ESPN/USA Today poll and the Associated Press poll.