Gonzaga's Ryan Nembhard named to Bob Cousy Award watch list

Nembhard among 20 candidates for nation's best point guard honor

Gonzaga's Ryan Nembhard was named to the Bob Cousy Award watch list on Monday.

Awarded to the country's best point guard, Nembhard is among the 20 candidates in contention for the prestigious honor heading into the 2023-24 college basketball season.

Nembhard averaged 12.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season for Creighton, which he helped guide to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The Aurora, Ontario, native finished with a career-high 30 points and four triples in a second-round win over Baylor. The season prior, Nembhard took home Big East Rookie of the Year honors after he averaged 11.3 points and 4.4. rebounds.

He wasn't named to the preseason All-American teams announced Monday, though that's not to say he can't ascend to that status. CBS Sports college basketball insider Matt Norlander believes Nembhard will be an All-American, an accomplishment that his older brother Andrew Nembhard never reached at Gonzaga. Should the younger Nembhard remain in contention for the Cousy Award throughout the season with stellar play, there's a chance he'll live up to Norlander's expectations.

Fans can vote for the Bob Cousy Award in each of the three rounds of fan voting that start Friday. The list of 20 players will be narrowed down to 10 in January, then down to five in February. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where a winner will be announced.

The winner of the Bob Cousy Award will be presented on a to be determined date.

Here's the complete watch list:

Isaiah Stevens (Colorado State)

Steven Ashworth (Creighton)

Tyrese Proctor (Duke)

Jamal Shead (Houston)

Dajuan Harris Jr. (Kansas)

DJ Wagner (Kentucky)

Tyler Kolek (Marquette)

Jahmir Young (Maryland)

Jahvon Quinerly (Memphis)

Nijel Pack (Miami FL)

RJ Davis (North Carolina)

Boo Buie (Northwestern)

Ace Baldwin Jr. (Penn State)

Judah Mintz (Syracuse)

Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee)

Max Abmas (Texas)

Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M)

Tristen Newton (UConn)

Isaiah Collier (USC)

Ryan Nembhard (Gonzaga)