University of North Carolina Athletics
Antawn Jamison Wins John R. Wooden Award
June 21, 1999 | Football
April 3, 1998
LOS ANGELES -- North Carolina's Antawn Jamison walked away with a sweep of player of the year awards Friday by earning the biggest of them all -- the 22nd annual John R. Wooden Award. "This is something that's very special," Jamison said. "It's kind of hard to put into words what it means. It's really a prestigious award, the highest a college basketball player can receive."
Jamison becomes the third North Carolina player to win the award, joining Tar Heel assistant coach Phil Ford, who won in 1978, and Michael Jordan, the winner in 1984.
No other school has had three winners since the award was first presented to UCLA's Marques Johnson in 1977 -- two years after Wooden retired after guiding the Bruins to 10 NCAA championships in his final 12 years.
Wooden, 87, attended Friday's ceremony.
Jamison was a runaway winner with 5,041 points in the balloting of nearly 1,000 sportswriters and sportscasters in 50 states, who vote from a ballot of 15 players selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board.
To qualify for the award, a player must have a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 and be making progress toward graduation.
Raef LaFrentz of Kansas was second with 3,901 points, followed by Mike Bibby of Arizona with 3,629, Paul Pierce of Kansas with 2,756, Miles Simon of Arizona with 2,592, Vince Carter of North Carolina with 1,566, Trajan Langdon of Duke with 1,539, Richard Hamilton of Connecticut with 1,413, Michael Doleac of Utah with 1,313 and Ansu Sesay of Mississippi with 1,164.
The top five vote-getters and their coaches were on hand at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Jamison, who said he'll decide in a few weeks whether he'll return to North Carolina for his senior year, led the Tar Heels to a No. 1 ranking in the regular season. North Carolina (34-4) shot a season-low 39.1 percent (29-of-67) in losing to Utah 65-59 last Saturday in the national semifinals. Jamison had 14 points and 12 rebounds, but made only seven field goals in 19 tries.
Jamison averaged 22.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 57 percent from the field.
He was the first Tar Heel to average over 20 points and 10 rebounds since Billy Cunningham in 1964-65, and the first to be named Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year since Jordan in 1984.
Jamison said his one regret was failing to win the national championship.
"As a team player you like to see your teammates be rewarded also," he said. "If I do decide to stay (at North Carolina), I'll want to win the national championship."
Jamison said he will meet with former North Carolina coach Dean Smith, current coach Bill Guthridge and his parents to talk about his future.
He said the possible labor strife in the NBA could influence his thinking. A lockout of players by team owners starting July 1 appears to be a distinct possibility.
"That's really scary," Jamison said. "If I do leave school early, pursue my dreams to play in the NBA, I would like to play. I really would like to play in the NBA but I'm having fun in school. Right now, I couldn't tell you whether I'm leaning one way or the other."
Jamison, who is majoring in African Studies, said earning a degree is important to him. He said he is close to graduation.
Jamison was also a runaway winner of The Associated Press College Player of the Year award, receiving 110 votes from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters to 35 points for LaFrentz; 15 for Langdon and 13 for Bibby.
A source says Bibby, a sophomore point guard, will leave Arizona early to enter the NBA draft. Pierce, a junior forward, announced Thursday he was passing up his senior year to turn pro.
#33 ANTAWN JAMISON
Forward
6-9, 223
Junior
Charlotte, N.C.
(Providence)
irthday: June 120, 1976
Parents: Albert & Kathy Jamison
Full Name: Antawn Cortez Jamison
College Major: African Studies
