The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday the 20 watch list candidates for the 2021 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. Named after Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor now in its 18th year recognizes the top point guards in Division I men's college basketball.
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates for the Cousy Award, highlighted by Fighting Illini junior Ayo Dosunmu. This is the second year in a row that Dosunmu has been on the Cousy Award Watch List and marks the newest preseason accolade for the Chicago native, who also is a first-team All-America pick by CBS Sports and ranked as the nation's No. 2 returning player by Andy Katz.Â
Former Illini all-time great Dee Brown was the third winner of the Cousy Award, earning the honor during his senior year in 2006.
2021 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award Candidates*Â
Remy Martin, Arizona State
Jared Butler, Baylor
McKinley Wright IV, Colorado
Marcus Zegarowski, Creighton
Jalen Crutcher, Dayton
Scottie Barnes, Florida State
Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
Marcus Garrett, Kansas
Javonte Smart, LSU
Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
Colbey Ross, Pepperdine
Fatts Russell, Rhode Island
Jacob Gilyard, Richmond
Geo Baker, Rutgers
Bryce Aiken, Seton Hall
Matt Coleman III, Texas
Collin Gillespie, Villanova
Kihei Clark, Virginia
D'Mitrik Trice, Wisconsin
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2020-21 season*
AYO DOSUNMU | 2019-20Â SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
- Illinois Athlete of the Year, becoming the first basketball player to earn the school's top athletic award since Deron Williams in 2005
- First-team All-Big Ten (media & AP)
- USBWA All-District V Team
- Big Ten Player of the Week (Feb. 24)
- Naismith Trophy Midseason Team (Feb. 13)
- Jay Bilas Co-National Player of the Week (Jan. 27)
- Started all 30 games he participated in, missing one to injury
- Led team and ranked fifth in the B1G in scoring at 16.6 ppg
- Scored at least nine points in all but one game, with 26 double-figure outings and eight 20+ point performances
- Averaged 19.7 points over the final six games, and 18.1 points over his last 15 games
- During his last 15 games, scored at least 15 points 13 times and was the team's leading scorer 10 times
- First Illini player in 20 years to lead the team in scoring in back-to-back seasons as a freshman and sophomore
- Top guard listed in the B1G field goal percentage rankings at 48.4% to stand sixth
- Led team in assists, ranking 11th in B1G with 3.3 apg
- Seventh in the B1G in free throw shooting at 75.5%
"Since 2004, the Hall of Fame has had the honor of bestowing the Bob Cousy Award on the best point guards in the collegiate game," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "The list is comprised of many outstanding student-athletes and we know the fans are very excited to see them take the floor. Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will allow fans to support their favorite players throughout the season and eventually play a part in helping us to select our winner. We greatly appreciate the support of Dell Technologies, the fans, our selection committee and the namesake of the award, Mr. Bob Cousy."
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2021 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In late February, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2021 Bob Cousy Award will be presented April 9, 2021, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Julius Erving Small Forward Award, the Karl Malone Power Forward Award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center Award, in addition to the Women's Starting Five.
Bob Cousy played for Holy Cross from 1946-1950 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, 1959-1963), NBA Most Valuable Player (1957) and 13-time NBA All-Star (1951-63). In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Payton Pritchard, Oregon (2020), Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), Frank Mason III, Kansas (2017), Tyler Ulis, Kentucky (2016), Delon Wright, Utah (2015), Shabazz Napier, Connecticut (2014), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011), Greivis Vasquez, Maryland (2010), Ty Lawson, North Carolina (2009), DJ Augustin, Texas (2008), Acie Law, Texas A&M (2007), Dee Brown, Illinois (2006), Raymond Felton, North Carolina (2005) and Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph's (2004).
For more information on the 2021 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and the latest updates, log onto hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #CousyAward on Twitter and Instagram. Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will go live on Nov. 6.
