SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Gonzaga's
Ryan Nembhard was named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List Monday.
Named after Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor now in its 19th 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.
Nembhard started 64 games the past two seasons for Creighton, averaging 12.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists this past season and 11.3 points and 4.4 assists as a freshman. Ryan is the younger brother of former Zag star, Andrew Nembhard, who is now flourishing with the Indiana Pacers. The Aurora, Ont., native, was crucial in the Bluejays' run to the Elite Eight this season, including finishing with a career-high 30 points and four three-pointers in a second-round NCAA tournament win over Baylor.
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.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, in each of the three rounds starting on Friday. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2024 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just 5. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where a winner will be selected.
The winner of the 2024 Bob Cousy Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center).
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Markquis Nowell, Kansas State (2023), Collin Gillespie, Villanova (2022), Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (2021), Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011), and Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph's (2004).
2024 Bob Cousy Award Candidates*
| Isaiah Stevens |
Colorado State |
Nijel Pack |
Miami (Fla.) |
| Steven Ashworth |
Creighton |
RJ Davis |
North Carolina |
| Tyrese Proctor |
Duke |
Boo Buie |
Northwestern |
| Ryan Nembhard |
Gonzaga |
Ace Baldwin Jr. |
Penn State |
| Jamal Shead |
Houston |
Judah Mintz |
Syracuse |
| Dajuan Harris Jr. |
Kansas |
Zakai Zeigler |
Tennessee |
| DJ Wagner |
Kentucky |
Max Abmas |
Texas |
| Tyler Kolek |
Marquette |
Wade Taylor IV |
Texas A&M |
| Jahmir Young |
Maryland |
Tristen Newton |
UConn |
| Jahvon Quinerly |
Memphis |
Isaiah Collier |
USC |
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2023-24 season.
