United States Basketball Writers Association
The United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) was founded in 1956 with the urging of National Collegiate Athletic Association director Walter Byers to serve the interests of journalists who cover college basketball.[1]
Scholarships
The USBWA annually awards college scholarships to students pursuing careers in sports journalism and to children of USBWA members.
Awards
The USBWA annually selects a
coach of the year for men and women, with the men's award named after coach Henry Iba[1] and the women's award being named after Geno Auriemma starting with the 2025 award.[3] The USBWA also chooses a USBWA National Freshman of the Year in men's and women's basketball, respectively named for Wayman Tisdale and Tamika Catchings
.
In addition, the USBWA presents a number of other awards:
- Two Most Courageous Awards—one for men's basketball, and the other for women's basketball. Each is presented to a player, coach, official, or other individual connected with college basketball who demonstrates extraordinary courage in life. The women's version has been officially known as the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, named after the legendary Tennessee coach, since 2012. Effective with the 2021 awards, the men's version is officially the Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award, named after the Vanderbilt player who was the first African American to play that sport in the Southeastern Conference.
- The Katha Quinn award, in honor of the former Sports Information Director at St. John's University, to individuals who have excelled servicing the media or provide an inspiration to sports writers.[1]
USBWA also divides the country into nine districts, naming for each a Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and an All-District Team.[4]
| District | States |
|---|---|
| I | Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut |
| II | New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, West Virginia |
| III | Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland |
| IV | Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida |
| V | Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin |
| VI | Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota |
| VII | Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana |
| VIII | Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Montana |
| IX | California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Arizona, Alaska |
Hall of fame
The USBWA also honors past and current members for career achievements with the USBWA
Hall of Fame.[5]
See also
- Pro Basketball Writers Association
- National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
- Baseball Writers' Association of America
- Football Writers Association of America (college)
- Pro Football Writers Association
- Professional Hockey Writers Association
- National Sports Media Association
Notes
- ^ a b c "ABOUT THE USBWA". USBWA. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ "USBWA NAMES FINALISTS FOR 2010 OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY". USBWA. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ "Women's National Coach of the Year Award to be named for Auriemma" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "USBWA NAMES 2012-13 MEN'S ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS". sportswriters.net (Press release). U.S. Basketball Writers Association. March 12, 2013. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013.
- ^ Inductees are listed in the following order: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 (50th member), 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, Charter Inductees. USBWA Hall of Fame. U.S. Basketball Writers Association. Retrieved 2011-09-23.