Jan. 10, 2013

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today that Sun Devil freshman Jahii Carson is one the 20 finalists for the 2013 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award.

The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes the top point guards in men's college basketball. An original list of 80 candidates was trimmed down by a nationally based committee to the below list of 20.

He is one of just two Pac-12 players on the list and one of just two freshmen. Carson is averaging 16.7 points and 5.4 assists per game, just shy of a pretty solid note. According to ESPN Stats, no freshman has averaged 17 points and five assists in a season since Shaheen Holloway of Seton Hall in 1996-97 (17.3/6.3). He has led or shared the team lead in scoring in nine games this season and has 81 assists, on pace for 150 which has been done by just 11 freshmen at Pac-12 schools.

He is averaging a Pac-12 best 35.9 minutes per game, the best mark by a freshman in Sun Devil history. The dude with the Beard lighting up the NBA averaged 34.1 in 2007-08.

Against Creighton on Nov. 24 he became fourth Sun Devil freshman to score 30 and he has five 20-point games (30 vs. No. 14 Creighton, 21 vs. CS Northridge and Cornell, 20 vs. Hartford and Florida A&M).

SUN DEVIL FRESHMEN TOP POINTS PER GAME
1. 19.0 - Ike Diogu, 2002-03
2. 17.8 - James Harden, 2007-08
3. 16.7 - Jahii Carson, 2012-13
4. 15.4 - Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91

SUN DEVIL FRESHMEN TOP MINUTES PER GAME
1. 35.9 - Jahii Carson, 2012-13
2. 34.1 - James Harden, 2007-08
3. 32.7 - Ty Abbott, 2007-08
4. 32.3 - Byron Scott, 1979-80
5. 32.2 - Ike Diogu, 2002-03

SUN DEVIL FRESHMEN WITH 100 ASSISTS
114 - Bobby Thompson, 1984
110 - James Harden, 2008
108 - Eddie House, 1997
81 - Jahii Carson, 2012-13

MOST POINTS BY A SUN DEVIL FRESHMAN
35, Mario Bennett vs. #5 Arizona, Feb. 20, 1992
31, Byron Scott vs. #18 Arizona, Feb. 23, 1980
30, Jahii Carson vs. #14 Creighton @Las Vegas, Nov. 24, 2012
30, Ty Abbott vs. California, Feb. 16, 2008

SUN DEVIL FRESHMEN 20-POINT GAMES (1972-73 to present)
James Harden, 2007-08, 16
Ike Diogu, 2002-03, 12
Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91, 7
Jahii Carson, 2012-13, 5/Steve Beck, 1983-84, 5

"This list embodies 20 of the nations most elite and dominate point guards in college basketball," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "The Hall of Fame is honored to celebrate these feats, as we move forward to the latter stages of the selection process." "All 20 of these young men represent strong values of skill, determination and teamwork, all characteristics that made Mr. Cousy the iconic leader he was," said Ken Kaufman, Chair of the Bob Cousy Award and former president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). "These young men are certainly deserving of this acknowledgement. We look forward to continuing the selection process, and seeing all of the players compete for this highly respected award."

The current listing of 20 finalists for the 2013 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed down to 10 players in early February and then down five players by early March. The final five players in contention for the award will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. These Hall of Fame committee is made up of top college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, Sports Information Directors and Hall of Famers.

The winner of the 2013 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the Hall of Fame's Class Announcement on Championship Monday in Atlanta as part of NCAA Final Four weekend. Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award have included Jameer Nelson (St. Joseph's), Raymond Felton (North Carolina), Dee Brown (Illinois), Acie Law (Texas A & M), DJ Augustin (Texas), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland), Kemba Walker (Connecticut) and last year's recipient Kendall Marshall (North Carolina).

2013 BOB COUSY AWARD FINALISTS
Jahii Carson, Arizona State University
Pierre Jackson, Baylor University
Quinn Cook, Duke University
Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga University
Keith Appling, Michigan State University
Isaiah Canaan, Murray State University
Kendall Williams, New Mexico
Lorenzo Brown, North Carolina State University
Aaron Craft, Ohio State University
D.J. Cooper, Ohio University
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State University
Nate Wolters, South Dakota State University
Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse University
Mark Lyons, University of Arizona
Ray McCallum, University of Detroit Mercy
Peyton Siva, University of Louisville
Trey Burke, University of Michigan
Andre Hollins, University of Minnesota
Phil Pressey, University of Missouri
Erick Green, Virginia Tech