SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today that Old Dominion guard Ahmad Caver (Atlanta, Ga.) was one of the 20 watch list candidates for the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. Named after 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. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Last season, Caver was named to the First Team All-Conference USA, as well as the All-Conference USA Defensive Team. He earned All-State First Team honors and was named Team MVP.
Caver’s 3.04 assists to turnover ratio ranked 11th in the NCAA and first the conference. Caver’s 73 steals ranked 15th in NCAA and second in the conference, while his 2.28 steals per game average ranked 17th in the nation (second in C-USA). The Atlanta, Ga.-native ranked 20th in the country and second in the C-USA for averaging 37:20 minutes played per game. His 6.2 assists per game average ranked 17th in DI and second in the league, while his 197 assists ranked 20th nationally (second in Conference USA). Caver ranked 11th in Conference USA for three-point field-goals made per game (2.1) and 17th for points per game (14.2). He recorded five double-doubles for the season and ended the regular season first on the team for points, assists and steals.
“For more than fifteen years, the Cousy Award has recognized the top collegiate point guard annually, forming a fraternity of honorees who have gone on to have tremendous success in the game,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “They exhibit many of the characteristics that made Bob Cousy a tremendous player and floor general and we are excited to watch the men on this watch list as the season progresses.”
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.
By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show presented by Wendy’s in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 12, 2019. Broadcast information will be released at a later date.
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include 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).
For more information on the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall on Twitter and Instagram.
2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award Candidates
Jared Harper (Auburn)
Ky Bowman (Boston College)
Tre Jones (Duke)
Josh Perkins (Gonzaga)
Devon Dotson (Kansas)
Tremont Waters (LSU)
Markus Howard (Marquette)
Jon Elmore (Marshall)
Cassius Winston (Michigan State)
Cody Martin (Nevada)
Ahmad Caver (Old Dominion)
Payton Pritchard (Oregon)
Carsen Edwards (Purdue)
Shamorie Ponds (St. John's)
Alex Robinson (TCU)
Jordan Bone (Tennessee)
Jaylen Hands (UCLA)
Jahvon Quinerly (Villanova)
Ty Jerome (Virginia)
Justin Robinson (Virginia Tech)
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season*
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall and #CousyAward or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.