Dosunmu named to the preseason watch list for Bob Cousy Award

Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu has been named to Bob Cousy preseason watch list

Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu has been named to the preseason watch list for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. 

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday the 20 watch list candidates for the award. Named after Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor now in its seventeenth year recognizes the top point guards in Division I men's college basketball.

This is the latest preseason accolade for Dosunmu, which includes third-team All-America by Athlon Sports and Dick Vitale, fourth-team All-America by Blue Ribbon Yearbook, first-team All-Big Ten by Blue Ribbon and Athlon, and All-Big Ten by the conference's media panel.

AYO DOSUNMU | 2018-19 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• · Big Ten All-Freshman Team & honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches & media)

• · First true freshman in school history to lead the Illini in scoring for the season (13.8 ppg)

• · Recorded the fourth-best scoring average by a freshman in Illini history

• · Two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Feb. 11 & Feb. 18)

• · 23 games scoring in double figures with seven performances of 20 or more points

• · Led Illini in assists (3.3 apg), second on team in steals (1.3 spg) and third on team in rebounding (4.0 rpg)Remy Martin Jr., Arizona State

2020 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award Candidates

• McKinley Wright IV, Colorado
• Tre Jones, Duke
• Andrew Nembhard, Florida
• Trent Forrest, Florida State
• Bryce Aiken, Harvard
• Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
• Devon Dotson, Kansas
• Ashton Hagans, Kentucky
• Markus Howard, Marquette
• Anthony Cowan, Maryland
• Zavier Simpson, Michigan
• Cassius Winston, Michigan State
• Cole Anthony, North Carolina
• Payton Pritchard, Oregon
• Jordan Ford, Saint Mary's
• Lamonte' Turner, Tennessee
• Davide Moretti, Texas Tech
• Marcus Evans, VCU
• Kihei Clark, Virginia

Former Illini all-time great Dee Brown was the third winner of the Cousy Award, earning the honor during his senior year in 2006.

Since 2004, the Hall of Fame has had the honor of bestowing the Bob Cousy Award on the best point guards in the collegiate game, forming an amazing list of award winners who have gone on to have tremendous success at the professional level," John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame said in the media release. "This year, we are excited to announce Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies, which will allow fans to voice their opinions and support their favorite players in each of the three rounds. We greatly appreciate the support of Dell Technologies, the fans, our selection committee and the namesake of the award, Mr. Bob Cousy."

Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), 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).