Trae Young Named 2018 Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year

While his National Player of the Year status remains up for debate, Oklahoma's Trae Young was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's Wayman Tisdale Award winner for Freshman of the Year on Wednesday.

Young leads college basketball in points (27.5) and assists (8.9) while emerging as one of the most dynamic playmakers in the sport. His numbers have tapered off a bit during Oklahoma's struggles in conference play, but he's nonetheless set a host of national and school records that made him an easy favorite for the award.

Many, including Young, were a little shocked when Kansas' Devonte' Graham was named Big 12 Player of the Year on Sunday. Graham topped Kansas in scoring (17.6) and assists (7.2) while leading the Jayhawks to their 14th consecutive regular-season conference title. 

"It's an honor being the Freshman of the Year," Young told reporters Sunday. "I'm disappointed I didn't get Player of the Year. But I know winning matters. Winning matters, and I wish we could have won more games. I'm very disappointed. But if that was the case, Kansas should have the last 14 Player of the Years. But I'm very honored for the awards I got. So I'm very ready to get it going again."

Young is the first Oklahoma player to win the USBA's Freshman of the Year, which is named after the former Sooners star. Tisdale averaged 24.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks during his freshman season in 1983 and was eventually taken No. 2 overall in the 1985 NBA draft. 

Young is widely expected to be a one-and-done talent and is a mortal lock to be a top-10 selection. He would be the third first-round pick out of Oklahoma since the turn of the century, joining Buddy Hield (2016) and Blake Griffin (2010).