SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Gonzaga's
Ryan Nembhard was named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 20 watch-list candidates 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 22nd 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 topped the West Coast Conference in assists per game at 6.9, including 6.8 in league games, and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9, 4.0 in WCC play). He was 15th in the conference averaging 12.6 points per outing, and 13.8 in WCC action. He was sixth in the conference averaging 1.4 steals per league game. Nembhard had 29 games of five or more assists last season.
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 in each of the three rounds starting on Friday. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Bob Cousy Award is composed of top men's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2025 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 Tristen Newton, Connecticut (2024), 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).
For more information on the 2025 Bob Cousy Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #CousyAward on X and Instagram.
2025 Bob Cousy Award Candidates*
| Mark Sears |
Alabama |
| Jeremy Roach |
Baylor |
| Tyrese Proctor |
Duke |
| Walter Clayton, Jr. |
Florida |
| Malik Mack |
Georgetown |
| Ryan Nembhard |
Gonzaga |
| Myles Rice |
Indiana |
| Tamin Lipsey |
Iowa State |
| Dajuan Harris |
Kansas |
| Josh Hubbard |
Mississippi State |
| Elliot Cadeau |
North Carolina |
| Markus Burton |
Notre Dame |
| Bruce Thornton |
Ohio State |
| Ace Baldwin, Jr. |
Penn State |
| Braden Smith |
Purdue |
| Dylan Harper |
Rutgers |
| Zakai Zeigler |
Tennessee |
| Jordan Pope |
Texas |
| Wade Taylor IV |
Texas A&M |
| Elijah Hawkins |
Texas Tech |
*
Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2024-2025 season.
