Villanova's Jenkins, Hart on Wooden Award watch list

V LLANOVA SENIORS Kris Jenkins and Josh Hart are among the 50 players on the John R. Wooden Award's first watch list.

Jenkins, a 6-6 forward, hit the game-winning shot against North Carolina in last season's national championship game. He is averaging 12 points per game for the Wildcats (2-0), who take on Western Michigan on Thursday morning in the first round of the Gildan Charleston (S.C.) Classic (11:30, ESPN2).

Hart, a 6-5 1/2 guard, who had 24 points in a three-point win over Purdue on Monday, is averaging a team-high 18.5 points.

Villanova hasn't lost a game in November since 2013.

The Wooden Award will announce its top 25 in January and its top 20 in February before releasing its final ballot in March. The prize for the most outstanding college player of the year will be announced April 7.

Others on this year's list include Duke junior guard Grayson Allen and California sophomore forward Ivan Raab.

Last year's winner was Buddy Hield, who played for Oklahoma and was drafted sixth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in June's NBA draft.

The last two Wooden Award winners with local ties were Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson (2004) and La Salle's Lionel Simmons (1990).