Sophomore forward Terrence Jones, Kentucky’s leading returning scorer and rebounder, has been named to the John R. Wooden Award preseason list.

The Wooden Award, created in 1976, is given annually to the nation’s best player. Previous winners included Larry Bird (1979), Michael Jordan (1984), Tim Duncan, (1997) and last season’s winner Jimmy Fredette.

Jones is one of 50 student-athletes on the preseason list. Selections are based on last year’s individual performance and team records.

Headlining this year’s list are Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger and North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes.

Transfers, freshmen and medical redshirts are not eligible for the preseason list, disqualifying highly touted UK freshmen like Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist from the original 50. Freshmen and transfers are eligible for the midseason list and final award, however.

Jones, the 2011 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, averaged 15.7 points and 8.8 rebounds a year ago, ranking seventh and first in the SEC, respectively. He set the UK freshman single-game scoring record with 35 points against Auburn. His 13 double-doubles were second among UK freshmen all time.

Seven SEC players made the 2011-12 preseason list.

The 2011-12 winner will be announced April 6.

Sophomore guard Doron Lamb made ESPN’ writer Andy Katz’s “snubs” list. You can view that story here.