JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD: HE'S GOLDEN WITH WOODEN AWARD, DAY 'HONOR' FOR NELSON.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

As Jameer Nelson travels the awards circuit, he constantly is reminded about St. Joseph's historic season. But with each trophy he packs into his carry-on, the pain associated with recalling the fall-away jumper that fell short at the buzzer against Oklahoma State is rekindled.

Nelson's agony is real, the image of his disappointment frozen in time as he sat on the court after missing the shot. But in years to come, his season as a whole, will be celebrated time and again.

The signposts for such memories will be displayed in an impressive trophy case, or a very large mantle, because Nelson's collection of hardware is more impressive than anyone could have imagined when he pulled his name out of the NBA Draft last spring and elected to return to the small Jesuit school in Philadelphia.

Nelson again was the winner Saturday when he was given the John R. Wooden Award as college basketball's player of the year at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Each of the awards holds meaning to Nelson, but as he sat next to Wooden, UCLA's legendary former coach, the senior guard admitted the significance of this one.

``Sitting up here next to Coach Wooden means a lot more than any trophy I'll receive in my lifetime,'' Nelson said. ``Meeting him is an honor for me, and something I'll never forget. I'll always be able to see those trophies somewhere in my house, in my basement, but sitting right next to him is something that I'll cherish.''

Two weeks ago, Nelson rushed up court and missed a buzzer-beating shot from the lane in a 64-62 loss to Oklahoma State, ending St. Joseph's run at a Final Four. Nelson still is trying to cope with it.

``I'm not going to let that determine my career and my future,'' Nelson said. ``It hurts, but I'm here with the greatest coach ever.''

His coach, Phil Martelli, offered his gratitude to Nelson for putting St. Joseph's on the national map.

Nelson, who also is the James Naismith and Associated Press player of the year, averaged 20.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in leading St. Joseph's to a 26-0 regular season, the school's first No. 1 ranking, a run to the Elite Eight and a final mark of 30-2.

Nelson also was honored by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and won the Adolph Rupp and Bob Cousy awards.

``When he got this award, it was the first time that I thought he emotionally connected with all this,'' Martelli said. ``I think (Saturday) kind of stopped him. I was pleased for that.''

The 5-foot-11 Nelson finished as St. Joseph's all-time leader in scoring (2,094) and assists (713), but Stanford coach Mike Montgomery saw Nelson's potential long before.

As a freshman in the 2001 NCAA Tournament, Nelson had 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a 90-83 second-round loss to Stanford.

``I don't know if you can ever envision a kid having the kind of impact that he did in terms of leading his team consistently, over and over again, to wins,'' said Montgomery, who received the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching award.

``I know when we saw him this year at the (Pete) Newell Challenge, for example, he had the ball in his hands all the time. He was making everybody else better. And, in fact, made the game-winner, as would be appropriate at the end of the game to beat Cal.''

More than 1,000 voters gave the edge to Nelson over Connecticut's Emeka Okafor.

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

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St. Joseph's Jameer Nelson, right, said sitting next to John Wooden meant more to him than any trophy.

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press