LOS ANGELES-Tuesday, the John R. Wooden Award released its first list of 50 candidates, featuring three Beehive State student-athletes.

They include BYU senior forward Yoeli Childs and Utah State’s senior guard Sam Merrill and sophomore center Neemias Queta.

The Wooden Award is annually given to the most outstanding men’s and women’s Division I college basketball players in the country.

The Aggies are one of only squads nationally to feature multiple candidates for the award on their roster.

Childs, a former Bingham High School star, is a returning all-West Coast Conference first team performer from 2018-19.

Last season, Childs netted 21.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

Merrill, a former Bountiful High School Star is the reigning Mountain West Conference player of the year and Mountain West Conference Tournament MVP.

Merrill averaged 20.9 points and 4.2 assists for the Aggies last season.

Queta, a Portuguese national, posted 11.8 points and 8.9 rebounds in 2018-19. His 84 blocks last season shattered a school record for freshmen. Queta finished 14th nationally with 2.4 blocks per game.