ATLANTA, Ga. — University of Michigan men’s basketball sophomore guard Trey Burke (Columbus, Ohio/Northland HS) was named as one of 50 players to the 2012 Naismith Award Player of the Year watch list today (Tuesday, Nov. 13) by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Earlier this week, Burke along with teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. (Miami, Fla./Palmetto Senior) were selected to the preseason Top 50 list for the John R. Wooden Award by the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

A preseason Associated Press All-American and All-Big Ten selection, Burke has opened the season averaging 21.5 points and 8.5 assists per game. Last season, he averaged 14.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists and was named U-M’s first AP All-America honorable mention selection since 1998. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the media, All-Big Ten second team from the coaches and media, and a unanimous selection to the conference all-freshman team.

The 50-player watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2012-13 college basketball season. The Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year presented by AT&T will be awarded on April 7, 2013 in Atlanta.