VCU's Hurt, Delle Donne on Wooden Award list

Courtney Hurt

VCU's Courtney Hurt's not a secret anymore.

Of course, Delaware's Elena Delle Donne never was.

Both players have cracked the Wooden Award Preseason Top 30 list, which puts them among the "early frontrunners for college basketball's most prestigious honor." Personally, we're not that big on these preseason lists, as we'd prefer awards be based on what players actually do, not what people think they might do. But hey, it's good publicity, and women's basketball can always use more of that.

A year ago at this time, Hurt wasn't making any of these lists. She then went out and led the nation in rebounding and double-doubles and claimed honorable mention All-America honors. In May, she participated in the World University Games trials for Team USA. With those accolades on her resume, Hurt would be the clear favorite for Colonial Athletic Association preseason player of the year honors were it not for....

Delle Donne, who not only tried out for and made that World University Games team but then went on to lead the gold medal-winning U.S. in scoring and rebounding. If Wooden had to trim its preseason list to five, Delle Donne would probably still be on it.