Sean Kilpatrick of Cincinnati, Semaj Christon of Xavier and Ohio State standouts Aaron Craft and LaQuinton Ross are all on the 50-man early season watch list for the Naismith Award.
Per a release from UC athletics, Kilpatrick is on the list for the second consecutive season.
The full release from the Bearcats and the full list of nominees is after the jump.
CINCINNATI - For the second consecutive season University of Cincinnati senior guard Sean Kilpatrick has been named to the Naismith early season watch list.
The 50-player watch list, announced Thursday, was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of coaches, administrators and media from across the country. In February, the Naismith voting academy narrows the list to the Top 30 based on athletic performance. In March, the voting academy selects the four finalists who will go to the final ballot. The winner is selected by a board of selectors vote in conjunction with fan voting.
Kilpatrick was named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 watch list on Nov. 12. He received preseason first team All-American Athletics Conference recognition from the league's coaches in October.
The Yonkers, N.Y., native led the Bearcats and ranked fifth in the former BIG EAST Conference last season, averaging 17.0 points and was fourth with 2.41 three-pointers per game. His efforts earned him second team All-BIG EAST accolades for the second consecutive season.
A gifted scorer, Kilpatrick has already eclipsed 1,500 career points at Cincinnati. He needs 478 more points this season to become only the second player in school history to register 2,000 career points. UC legend Oscar Robertson (1958-60) holds the school record with 2,973 points.
2013-14 Naismith Early Season Watch List
Name, Class, Position, School, Conference
Jordan Adams, So., G, UCLA, Pac-12
Kyle Anderson, So., G-F, UCLA, Pac-12
Isaiah Austin, So., C, Baylor, Big 12
Jerrelle Benimon, Sr., F, Towson, Colonial Athletic
Jahii Carson, So., G, Arizona State, Pac-12
Semaj Christon, So., G, Xavier, Big East
Aaron Craft, Sr., G, Ohio State, Big Ten
Sam Dekker, So., F, Wisconsin, Big Ten
Spencer Dinwiddie, Jr., G, Colorado, Pac-12
Cleanthony Early, Sr., F, Wichita State, Missouri Valley
Perry Ellis, So., F, Kansas, Big 12
C.J. Fair, Sr., F, Syracuse, ACC
Yogi Ferrell, So., G, Indiana, Big Ten
Aaron Gordon, Fr., F, Arizona, Pac-12
Treveon Graham, Jr., G, VCU, Atlantic 10
Jerian Grant, Sr., G, Notre Dame, ACC
Montrezl Harrell, So., F, Louisville, American Athletic
Gary Harris, So., G, Michigan State, Big Ten
Joe Harris, Sr., G, Virginia, ACC
Andrew Harrison, Fr., G, Kentucky, SEC
Tyler Haws, Jr., G, BYU, West Coast
Marshall Henderson, Sr., G, Ole Miss, SEC
Rodney Hood, So., F, Duke, ACC,
Joe Jackson, Sr., G, Memphis, American Athletic
Cory Jefferson, Sr., F, Baylor, Big 12
Sean Kilpatrick, Sr., G, Cincinnati, American Athletic
Alex Kirk, Jr., C, New Mexico, Mountain West
Doug McDermott, Sr., F, Creighton, Big East
Mitch McGary, So., F, Michigan, Big Ten
Jordan McRae, Sr., G, Tennessee, SEC
James Michael McAdoo, Jr., F, North Carolina, ACC
Shabazz Napier, Sr., G, UConn, American Athletic
Johnny O'Bryant III, Jr., F, LSU, SEC
Kevin Pangos, Jr., G, Gonzaga, West Coast
Jabari Parker, Fr., F, Duke, ACC
Adreian Payne, Sr., C, Michigan State, Big Ten
Julius Randle, Fr., F, Kentucky, SEC
Juvonte Reddic, Sr., F, VCU, Atlantic 10
Glenn Robinson III, So., F, Michigan, Big Ten
LaQuinton Ross, Jr., F, Ohio State, Big Ten
Wayne Selden, Jr., Fr., G, Kansas, Big 12
Marcus Smart, So., G, Oklahoma State, Big 12
Russ Smith, Sr., G, Louisville, American Athletic
Jarnell Stokes, Jr., F, Tennessee, SEC
Rasheed Sulaimon, So., G, Duke, ACC
Noah Vonleh, Fr., F, Indiana, Big Ten
Andrew Wiggins, Fr., G, Kansas, Big 12
Kendall Williams, Sr., G, New Mexico, Mountain West
Chaz Williams, Sr., G, UMass, Atlantic 10
James Young, Fr., G, Kentucky, SEC
