SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –  Gonzaga's Josh Perkins was named one of the five finalists for the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday.
 
Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor now in its fourteenth year recognizes the top point guards in men's division one college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel narrowed the original watch list of 20 candidates down to 10 and now the final five.
 
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.
 
The five finalists for the 2019 Bob Cousy Award are Perkins, Tremont Waters (LSU), Markus Howard (Marquette), Cassius Winston (Michigan State) and Ja Morant (Murray State).
 
Perkins became Gonzaga's all-time assist leader this season, breaking the program's career assists record. He sits at 683 assists in his career, which ranks sixth in West Coast Conference history, and 205 this season. His 205 assists are the second-most in a single season in program history. The redshirt senior is five points away from 1,500 in his career.
 
This season, Perkins is fifth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.42), seventh with 205 assists and 10^th averaging 6.6 assists per game. He is also a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award for his efforts in the classroom, community and on the court.
 
The winner of the 2019 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, on April 12, 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. Broadcast information 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).