Watch Lists to be Revealed and Fan Voting to Go Live in Coming Weeks
Springfield, Mass. — The 2019-20 college basketball season will soon be upon us and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will be continuing its tradition of honoring the best in the collegiate game today, while showing homage to Hall of Famers who have paved the way. Dell Technologies will be partnering with the Hall as the official sponsor of the fan voting component, now used in each of the three rounds in determining the Starting Five award winners.
“The Starting Five Awards have been a tremendous way for the Hall of Fame to forge bonds between elite college athletes and the Hall of Famers who have helped to develop the game into the global pastime it is today,” said John Doleva, President & CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “We’re excited to partner with Dell Technologies, to allow fans to join in the selection process, while also using Dell products to upgrade our museum technology.”
“We began working with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as they embarked on a transformation of their ‘homecourt’ in Springfield, Mass., which required new technology to make the visitor experience richer and more engaging,” said Anne Ristau, Head of Global Sponsorships at Dell Technologies. “We were immediately impressed and struck by their mission. Not only is the Hall of Fame preserving the history of the game, but they are also looking forward – sharing the values of the game that began with Dr. Naismith and connecting fans worldwide with future legends. We are thrilled to be a part of the Hall of Fame’s digital future both in the museum and online for fans from around the globe to engage and enjoy!”
The 10 positional awards, also supported by Eaton Ephesus Lighting, begin with a watch list of 20 student-athletes in mid-October, which will be narrowed to 10 in February and five finalists in March. Winners will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame’s selection committee and revealed at the ESPN College Basketball Awards in Los Angeles on April 10, 2020.
In the coming weeks, the Hall of Fame will release its preseason watch lists of 20 players each for its 10 annual awards deemed the Basketball Hall of Fame Starting Five for both men and women. The awards and anticipated watch list distribution dates are as follows:
- Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award – October 14
- Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award – October 15
- Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award – October 16
- Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award – October 17
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award – October 18
- Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award – October 21
- Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award – October 22
- Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award – October 23
- Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award – October 24
- Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award – October 25
Fan voting will begin Friday, October 18th for the Men’s Starting Five and Friday, October 25th for the Women’s Starting Five. For fan voting presented by Dell Technologies, more information about the Basketball Hall of Fame Starting Five and a complete list of previous award winners, visit www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall on Twitter and Instagram.
About Dell Technologies
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About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.