Jan. 12, 2011
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - San Diego State senior guard D.J. Gay is one of 20 finalists for 2011 Bob Cousy Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today. The annual award is given to college basketball's top point guard and is named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtics great Bob Cousy. An original list of 70-plus candidates was trimmed to 20 by a Hall of Fame appointed, nationally based committee.
A native of Sun Valley, Calif., Gay is averaging a career-high 11.8 points and 3.2 assists in 33.5 minutes. The SDSU team captain and four-year starter has played and started all 17 games this season and has knocked down a team-best 35 three-point field goals.
"This list makes up college basketball's elite at the point guard position," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "These 20 players in contention for the award all have skills that Mr. Cousy would be proud of. The Hall of Fame looks forward to having these players compete for one of college basketball's most prestigious awards."
"We are pleased with our list of 20 candidates that have advanced into the next round of the process," said Ken Kauffman, Chair of the 2011 Bob Cousy Award. "We've got a very competitive field of players in contention for the award and we look forward to moving into the next phase. All of these players are well deserving of the recognition."
The current listing of 20 finalists for the 2011 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed down to 10 players by February 3 and then further to five players by March 3. The final five players in contention for the award will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. This Hall of Fame committee is made up of top college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, Sports Information Directors and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2011 Bob Cousy Award will be awarded at the Hall of Fame's Class Announcement on Monday April 4 in Houston, Texas, as part of NCAA Final Four weekend.
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award have included: Jameer Nelson (St. Joseph's), Raymond Felton (North Carolina), Dee Brown (Illinois), Acie Law (Texas A&M), DJ Augustin (Texas), Ty Lawson (North Carolina) and Greivis Vasquez (Maryland). For more information on the 2011 Bob Cousy Award, log onto www.cousyaward.com.
2011 Bob Cousy Award Finalists
Kevin Anderson (Richmond)
Norris Cole (Cleveland State)
Malcolm Delaney (Virginia Tech)
Corey Fisher (Villanova)
Jimmer Fredette (Brigham Young)
D.J. Gay (San Diego State)
Tu Holloway (Xavier)
Scoop Jardine (Syracuse)
Brandon Knight (Kentucky)
Kalin Lucas (Michigan State)
Demetri McCamey (Illinois)
Mickey McConnell (St. Mary's College)
Jacob Pullen (Kansas State)
Nolan Smith (Duke)
Isaiah Thomas (Washington)
Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin)
Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas)
Kemba Walker (Connecticut)
Casper Ware (Long Beach State)
Chris Wright (Georgetown)