LOGAN, Utah - Utah State junior Neemias Queta is one of just 50 players in the nation named to the initial watch list for the John Wooden Award, as announced by organization on Tuesday. The award, presented by Wendy's, recognizes the most outstanding player in collegiate basketball, as well as recognizing others on the Wooden Award All-American team.

Queta is the only player from the Mountain West on the list and one of just nine from the western United States, joining Stanford's Oscar da Silva and Ziaire Willams, Colorado's McKinley Wright IV, Pepperdine's Colbey Ross, USC's Evan Mobley, Arizona State's Remy Martin, UCLA's Chris Smith and Gonzaga's Drew Timme and Corey Kispert.

The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2021 John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year presented by Wendy's. Players not chosen to the preseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award midseason list, late season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All American Team will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2021 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy's following the NCAA Tournament in April.

Queta opened the 2020-21 season with a pair of double-doubles and led the Aggies in scoring in two games at the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic last week. Queta lead Utah State with 17 points and 10 rebounds in his season debut against VCU and then followed that performance up with a near-double-double of 12 points and eight rebounds against South Dakota State. Queta finished the tournament with a 15-point, 10-rebound performance in Utah State's 82-71 victory over Northern Iowa. Overall, Queta averaged 14.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 2.0 assists per game over the three-game stretch.

Last year, Queta finished the 2019-20 season second on the team in scoring and rebounding with 13.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, respectively, despite missing the first nine games and 12 games overall. Queta anchored the Utah State defense, totaling a team-best 38 blocks and averaging a league-best 1.7 rejections during Mountain West play. Queta earned second-team all-Mountain West honors and was also named to the Mountain West All-Tournament Team as the Aggies captured their second-straight MW Tournament championship and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years.

Queta burst onto the scene as a freshman, earning MW Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year honors after recording a single-season school record of 84 blocks and averaging 2.4 per contest. Queta finished second on the team with 11.8 points per game and led the team on the glass, pulling down 8.9 rebounds per game. At the end of the year, Queta was named second-team all-Mountain West and was also a member of the Mountain West All-Tournament Team after the Aggies captured the first of back-to-back MW tournament championships.

Queta is in hot pursuit of the all-time blocks record in Utah State history, needing just 25 more to tie the all-time mark of 155 set by Gilbert Pete (1986-89).

Utah State men's basketball news and information is available on Facebook (facebook.com/usumensbasketball), on Twitter (@usubasketball) and on Instagram (@usubasketball). Fans can also get USU men's basketball highlights on YouTube (youtube.com/utahstateathletics). Aggie fans can follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter (@usuathletics), on Facebook (facebook.com/usuathletics) or on Instagram (@usuathletics).

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