Napier Headlines 2012 Bob Cousy Award Candidates

Here’s the press release announcing UConn Huskies men’s basketball point guard Shabazz Napier as one of the 2012 Bob Cousy Award candidates for the nation’s best point guard.

STORRS, Conn. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. announced today that UConn sophomore Shabazz Napier is a candidate for the 2012 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award. UConn’s Kemba Walker took home the award last season.

UConn's Shabazz Napier gets fouled on the way to the basket against Holy Cross at the XL Center Sunday afternoonNapier has stepped into the starting role for Connecticut as a sophomore and is averaging 14.6 points, 6.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game to lead UConn to a 9-1 record. He recorded just the ninth triple-double in UConn history on November 20 against Coppin State with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists.

The Roxbury, Mass., native ranks among the BIG EAST Conference leaders in assists (2nd), steals (4th), 3-pt percentage (4th), 3-pt made (5th) and minutes played (8th).

Napier is one of six BIG EAST players on the list, joining Peyton Siva (Louisville), Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh), Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche (Syracuse), and Maalik Wayns (Villanova)

The original list of 65 candidates will be narrowed down to a final twenty by January 1, final ten by February 1 and final five by March 1. A premier Selection Committee will be appointed by the Hall of Fame to review the final five candidates in contention for the nation’s top collegiate point guard award. These Hall of Fame committees are made up of top college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, Sports Information Directors and Hall of Famers.

The winner of the 2012 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the Hall of Fame’s Class Announcement on Championship Monday in New Orleans as part of NCAA Final Four weekend.

For more information on the Bob Cousy Award, log on to http://www.cousyaward.com.

For a full look at the 2012 Bob Cousy Award Candidates, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

2012 Bob Cousy Award Candidates
Randy Davis Ball State
Pierre Jackson Baylor
Keegan Bell Chattanooga
Andre Young Clemson
Andrew Lawrence College of Charleston
Brian Barbour Columbia
Shabazz Napier Connecticut
Chris Wroblewski Cornell
Antoine Young Creighton
JP Kuhlman Davidson
Ray McCallum Detroit
Seth Curry Duke
TJ McConnell Duquesne
Kenny Boynton Florida
Erving Walker Florida
Luke Loucks Florida State
Jeff Peterson Florida State
Tony Taylor George Washington
James Fields Georgia State
Brandyn Curry Harvard
Scott Machado Iona
Stephen Thomas IUPUI
Tyshawn Taylor Kansas
Marquis Teague Kentucky
Tyreek Duren La Salle
Mackey McKnight Lehigh
Casper Ware Long Beach State
Peyton Siva Louisville
Damier Pitts Marshall
Will Barton Memphis
Joe Jackson Memphis
Malcolm Grant Miami
Trey Burke Michigan
Kaylon Williams Milwaukee
Dee Bost Mississippi State
Mike Dixon Missouri
Will Cherry Montana
Kendall Williams New Mexico
Kendall Marshall North Carolina

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Photo credit: Brad Horrigan – Hartford Courant (No. 8 in gallery)

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