Albuquerque, N.M. — The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame committee has announced its preseason Bob Cousy Watch List, and for the fifth straight year, the Lobos have a player on that list. Kendall Williams, the 2013 Preseason MW Player of the Year, was named to the preseason Cousy Watch list for his third straight season.
The award is named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy and recognizes the top point guard in men’s college basketball. Williams is one of three Mountain West players on the list, and his inclusion marks the fifth straight year that a Lobo has been so honored.
In 2009 and 2010, Dairese Gary was on the first Cousy Watch list (prior to this season the list was announced in December). In 2011, Williams was on the list, and last year both Williams and Hugh Greenwood made the initial list. Williams made it to the final 20 names last year
Williams is a three-year starter who received Associated Press All-American honorable mention last season in addition to being named the 2012-13 MW Player of the Year. A two-time All-MW honoree, he is only the second player in league history to earn both MW Freshman and Player of the Year honors in a career, joining Andrew Bogut of Utah. Last year he was second in assists (5.3 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5), eighth in steals (1.8 spg) and minutes played (33.9 mpg), ninth in free throw percentage (.706), 10th in 3-pointers made (1.7 pg) and tied for 10th in scoring (13.1 ppg).
He recorded at least three assists in all 15 MW games he played, including nine contests with five or more. He burst onto the national radar however with his career-high 46 points at Colorado State on Feb. 23, 2013 in a game that basically decided the regular season championship. He was named ESPN’s National Player of the Week after that contest, one in which he went 10-for-13 from three-point range.
Along with Williams, Boise State’s Derrick Marks and Utah State’s Preston Medlin were also named to the Watch List. No other future opponents had a representative on the list.
In February the list will be pared down to 20, and the five finalists for the award will be announced in March.
2013 Preseason Cousy Watch List
Trevor Releford, Alabama
TJ McConnell, Arizona
Jahii Carson, Arizona State
Derrick Marks, Boise State
Walt Lemon, Jr., Bradley
Justin Cobbs, California
Kyle Anderson, UCLA
Billy Baron, Canisus
Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado
Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
Quinn Cook, Duke
Brett Comer, Florida Gulf Coast
Kasey Hill, Florida
Devon Bookert, Florida State
Markel Starks, Georgetown
Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga
Keifer Sykes, Green Bay
Siyani Chambers, Harvard
Brandyn Curry, Harvard
Yogi Ferrell, Indiana
Jake Odum, Indiana State
DeAndre Kane, Iowa State
Andrew Harrison, Kentucky
Elfrid Payton, Lafayette
Jason Brickman, Long Island-Brooklyn
Anthony Ireland, Loyola Marymount
Chris Jones, Louisville
Chaz Williams, Massachusetts
Michael Dixon, Memphis
Joe Jackson, Memphis
Keith Appling, Michigan State
Jordan Clarkson, Missouri
Kendall Williams, New Mexico
Marcus Paige, North Carolina
Eric Atkins, Notre Dame
Aaron Craft, Ohio State
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
Dominic Artis, Oregon
Tim Frazier, Penn State
Kris Dunn, Providence
Tyler Ennis, Syracuse
Preston Medlin, Utah State
Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova
Nigel Williams-Goss, Washington
Semaj Christon, Xavier
Kendrick Perry, Youngstown State