Cassius Winston Named Finalist for Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State men's basketball player Cassius Winston (Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) was named one of five finalists for the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday.
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.
In addition to Winston, the other finalists for the 2019 Bob Cousy Award are Josh Perkins (Gonzaga), Tremont Waters (LSU), Markus Howard (Marquette) and Ja Morant (Murray State).
Named after Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor now in its sixteenth year recognizes the top point guards in Division I men's college basketball.
The junior guard is averaging 19.2 points, 7.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 47.4 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from 3-point land. He ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring and leads the league, and ranks No. 3 in the country, in assists.
Winston has scored at least 20 points 16 times this year, including 13 of the last 18 games, averaging 20.9 points per game in that span. He has five double-doubles this year, has handed out at least 10 assists six times and at least six assists 24 times.
Winston is the only player in the country averaging at least 19.0 points per game, 7.0 assists per game and connecting on at least 40.0 percent of his 3-point attempts this season.
Since 1992-93, Winston is one of only 18 Division I college basketball players to average at least 18.0 points and 7.0 assists per game, including one of three players this year (Ja Morant of Murray State and Colbey Ross of Pepperdine). Among that group of 18 players, which includes Denzel Valentine during the 2015-16 season, Winston is one of just six from a Power Six Conference.
Winston, who was selected to the John R. Wooden® Midseason Top 25, recognizing the top player in college basketball, has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week a school record five times this season (Nov. 26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 21). He was also named the Most Valuable Player at the Las Vegas Invitational, averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds in wins over UCLA and Texas.
The winner of the 2019 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, Calif. on Friday, April 12, 2019, 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.
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