SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Senior Devin Gibson was named a candidate for the 2011 Bob Cousy Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of announced Monday.
The annual award, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes college basketball’s top point guard. A total of 66 players were nominated for the 2011 award, which were solicited from all schools across the country.
Gibson, a preseason first-team All-Southland Conference selection, is averaging 16 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and a league-leading (5th/NCAA) 3.1 steals per game. The Houston native has helped the Roadrunners get off to their second consecutive 6-2 start entering Monday’s contest against Samford (7-4).
Gibson, one of 30 candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, has three 20-point games and a pair of double-doubles this season. The Cy-Falls High product became UTSA’s all-time steals leader earlier this season and now has 257 career thefts and he ranks second in school annals in assists (406), third in free throws (457), fifth in free-throw percentage (.752), fifth in starts (85) and sixth in scoring (1,232).
“The Hall of Fame is proud to once again work with Mr. Cousy and to present one of college basketball’s most coveted awards,” President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame John L. Doleva said. “This list represents a wide range of college basketball’s top players and we look forward to honoring the legacy of Mr. Cousy with this year’s award winner.”
“Bob is one of the great players in the history of basketball and his point guard ability was well ahead of his time,” Chair of the Bob Cousy Award Ken Kaufman said. “This award recognizes his incredible talents from the past while also honoring the best in today’s game. We look forward to honoring this year’s award winner come April.”
This original list of candidates will be narrowed down to a final 20 by Jan. 3, final 10 by Feb. 3, and final five by March 3. A Hall of Fame appointed screening committee will narrow down the candidates from 20 to 10 to 5 prior to a Blue Ribbon Selection Committee evaluating the final five candidates and ultimately choosing the winner. Both of the 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 2011 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the Hall of Fame’s Class Announcement on Monday, April 4, in Houston 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 IV (Texas A&M), D.J. Augustin (Texas), Ty Lawson (North Carolina) and Greivis Vasquez (Maryland). For more information on the 2011 Bob Cousy Award, click here.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level — professional, collegiate, men and women. For more information on these and other upcoming events, click here or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA.
