SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – UConn sophomore guard Jalen Adams (Roxbury, Mass.) is one of 20 college basketball players across the country to be named to the watch list for the 2017 Bob Cousy Award, given annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and College of the Holy Cross to the top point guard in men’s college basketball.
Adams is currently the lone point guard in the American Athletic Conference to be on the list, though players can earn their way onto the list throughout the season.
Former Huskies Kemba Walker (2011) and Shabazz Napier (2014) are past winners of the award.
Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor now in its 14th year, recognizes the top point guards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Adams started 11 games for UConn last year as a freshman, averaging 7.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. The Huskies were the No. 1 team in the country in free throw shooting and Adams led the team in that category, hitting at an .863 clip.
Adams’ most memorable moment of the season was his 65foot buzzer-beater which sent UConn’s quarterfinal game in the American Conference Championship into a fourth overtime. The Huskies eventually won the game and went on to capture the league title. During the tourney, Adams averaged 12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
“As we begin the 201617 basketball season, we’re all excited to see how these outstanding point guards will lead their teams,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “They exhibit many of the characteristics that made Bob Cousy a tremendous player and floor general at Holy Cross and we are pleased to be recognizing them. We thank College of Holy Cross for their continued support of this esteemed award.”
Cousy played for Holy Cross from 19461950 winning an NCAA Championship in 1947. He was named a Consensus First Team All-American in 1950. His success continued at the professional level as a six-time NBA Champion (1957, 19591963), NBA Most Valuable Player (1957) and 13time NBA All-Star (1951-63). In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2017 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2017 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 7, 2017. Broadcast information will be released at a later date.
For more information on the 2017 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award presented by College of the Holy Cross, log onto
www.CousyAward.com.
2017 Bob Cousy Award Watch List
| Jalen Adams |
UConn |
| Maurice Watson Jr. |
Creighton |
| Jack Gibbs |
Davidson |
| Frank Jackson |
Duke |
| Nigel Williams-Goss |
Gonzaga |
| Monte Morris |
Iowa St. |
| Frank Mason |
Kansas |
| De'Aaron Fox |
Kentucky |
| Melo Trimble |
Maryland |
| Joel Berry II |
North Carolina |
| Dennis Smith |
North Carolina State |
| Jawun Evans |
Oklahoma State |
| Lonzo Ball |
UCLA |
| Jordan McLaughlin |
USC |
| Jalen Brunson |
Villanova |
| London Perrantes |
Virginia |
| Seth Allen |
Virginia Tech |
| Markelle Fultz |
Washington |
| Brunson Koenig |
Wisconsin |
| Edmund Sumner |
Xavier |