“Naismith Starting 5” Fan Voting to Open Friday, March 8 at HoophallAwards.com
Springfield, Mass. — The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the five finalists for the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. Named after Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross point guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor now in its sixteenth year recognizes the top point guards in Division I men’s college basketball.
“This season, basketball fans have been treated to a number of high-level point guards in the collegiate game,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Our five distinguished finalists exhibit many of the playmaking and leadership qualities that allowed Bob Cousy to have such extraordinary success at all levels of the game.”
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 student-athletes in October, which was narrowed to 10 candidates in February and now just five finalists. This month, the finalists will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans are encouraged to visit www.HoophallAwards.com to cast their votes March 8-29.
“It is an immense honor to serve as Chairman of the Bob Cousy Award committee,” said Ken Kaufman. “I know how much this award means to Mr. Cousy and how important it is to him that we get it right. There are certainly a number of fine point guards in the game today, but I believe these finalists represent the best of the best.”
The five finalists for the 2019 Bob Cousy Award are Josh Perkins (Gonzaga), Tremont Waters (LSU), Markus Howard (Marquette), Cassius Winston (Michigan State) and Ja Morant (Murray State).
“For many years, I’ve been privileged to bestow an award bearing my name on the best college point guards,” said Bob Cousy, Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 1971. “I’ve enjoyed watching them develop from elite collegiate athletes to professionals, creating a unique thread between all who have been fortunate to win this award.”
The winner of the 2019 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy’s in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 12, 2019, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting 5. Additional awards being presented and receiving support from Eaton Ephesus Lighting 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. Additional information about the telecast will be released by ESPN at a later date.
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include 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 and the latest updates on the 2019 Bob Cousy Award, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #CousyAward on Twitter and Instagram.
About Bob Cousy
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 and in 1971 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
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.