Nov. 1, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The National Advisory Board announced on Wednesday the Top 30 pre-season candidates for the 2007-08 Women's John R. Wooden Award. The Atlantic Coast Conference placed five on the preseason list, which is composed of 30 student-athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball's most coveted trophy.

Two-time All-American and this year's ACC Pre-season Player of the Year Crystal Langhorne of Maryland is one of the five ACC players on this year's watch list. Langhorne, who led the ACC with a .707 field goal percentage last year and placed in the ACC's top 10 in both scoring (14.1) and rebounding (8.1) average, is joined by teammates Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver in addition to Duke's Abby Waner and North Carolina's Erlana Larkins.

In mid-January, the Wooden Award Committee will release the Midseason Top 20 list, followed by the official voting ballot in March consisting of approximately 15 players. In order to be considered for the National Ballot each player must be certified by their university as meeting the award's criteria, including making progress toward graduation, and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Over 200 voters, comprised of sports media members and women's college basketball experts from across the nation, will cast their votes for the five-member All-American team and Wooden Award honor as the most outstanding female collegiate basketball player in the nation.

The 2008 Wooden Award Weekend, which will include the presentation of the Men's and Women's Wooden Award, the Wooden Award All-American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award to Pat Summitt from the University of Tennessee, will take place April 11- 12. The top five male and female finalists will be invited to Los Angeles for the Award celebration and will receive a contribution from The Los Angeles Athletic Club in their name to their university's general scholarship fund.

For more information about the Atlantic Coast Conference, including women's basketball news, tournament tickets and events log on to TheACC.com. For additional information, specifically on this year's ACC Women's Basketball Tournament, go to TheACC.com/SheCanPlay.