SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame named its annual 20 watch-list candidates for the Bob Cousy Award. The honor is named after Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtics guard and Holy Cross standout, in the popular legend, Bob Cousy. Now in its 20th year, the Hall recognizes the top point guard in Division I men’s college basketball.
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
“The Hall of Fame is honored to present the Bob Cousy Award to the best point guard in the collegiate game for the 20th consecutive year,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “This year’s class of point guards that have been named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List truly embody the style and reputation of the ‘Houdini of the Hardwood,’ and we look forward to watching their playmaking ability take center stage this season.”
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, in each of the three rounds starting on October 28. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the Cousy Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.
The winner of the 2023 Bob Cousy Award will be presented this coming spring, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Collin Gillespie, Villanova (2022), Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (2021), Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011) and Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s (2004).