John Wall Wins Best College Male Athlete at 2010 ESPYs Wednesday

Former Kentucky All-American point guard John Wall, the 2009-10 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, was selected as the Best Male College Athlete at the 2010 ESPY Awards, announced by ESPN during the ESPYs Countdown show at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

Wall, a native of Raleigh, N.C., was announced as the top male in all of collegiate athletics during the pre-ESPY show on ESPN. ESPN SportsNation hosts Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle read the announcement on the red carpet.

During his dynamic freshman season, Wall became the first player in the storied annals of UK basketball to win a primary national player of the year honor, claiming the 2010 Adolph Rupp Trophy. A 6-foot-4, 195-pounder, Wall led UK in scoring (16.6), assists (6.5) and steals (1.. A consensus freshmen All-America selection, Wall finished the season with 241 assists, topping the UK single-season assist record. Wall helped lead UK to a SEC regular-season and tournament championship and a berth in the Elite Eight. Wall was selected first overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, becoming the first former UK player to go No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft.

Wall won the Best Male College Athlete award in a voting held on ESPN.com. Wisconsin hockey standout Blake Geoffrion, Alabama running back Mark Ingram, Ohio State guard Evan Turner and Florida International infielder Garrett Wittels joined Wall as a finalist. Geoffrion was named as the best college hockey player in the nation, Ingram claimed the first Heisman Trophy in Alabama football history, Turner had a breakout season in leading Ohio State to the NCAA Tournament and Wittels ended the 2010 baseball season riding a staggering 56-game hitting streak, earning Baseball America All-America accolades.

Wall was also honored during the 2009-10 Kentucky CATSPY Awards, as the K-Association Male Athlete of the Year. The CATSPY Awards is a spin-off of the ESPY Awards, a formal awards banquet held annually in Lexington.