Kentucky Wildcats sophomore guard Ashton Hagans has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2020 Bob Cousy Award.
Hagans is one of 20 players and 11 underclassmen players on the preseason list, which includes fellow SEC point guards Andrew Nembhard (Florida Gators) and Lamonte’ Turner (Tennessee Volunteers).
Named after Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Cousy, this year’s award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show in April. Former UK star Tyler Ulis won the award in 2016 after setting the UK single-season assist record (246) during his sophomore campaign. He is the only Wildcat to win the award.
Hagans shared the 2019 SEC Defensive Player of the Year award after snatching 61 steals during his freshman year. Included in that was a three-way tie for UK’s single-game record of eight steals (Rajon Rondo and Wayne Turner) in a win over North Carolina.
The Georgia native is also UK’s leading returning scorer at 7.7 points per game and had 160 assists, the fifth-most by a UK freshman in school history. That mark included an SEC Tournament-record 12 assists in the semifinals vs. Tennessee.
The winner of the 2020 Bob Cousy Award will be announced at the ESPN College Basketball Awards show on April 10. In addition, fan voting will be a part of all three rounds of voting before a winner is announced.
2020 Bob Cousy Award Candidates
- Remy Martin ^Arizona State
- McKinley Wright IV Colorado
- Tre Jones Duke
- Andrew Nembhard Florida
- Trent Forrest Florida St.
- Bryce Aiken Harvard
- Ayo Dosunmu Illinois
- Devon Dotson ^Kansas
- Ashton Hagans Kentucky
- Markus Howard Marquette
- Anthony Cowan Maryland
- Zavier Simpson Michigan
- Cassius Winston Michigan State
- Cole Anthony North Carolina
- Payton Pritchard ^Oregon
- Jordan Ford Saint Mary’s
- Lamonte’ Turner Tennessee
- Davide Moretti Texas Tech
- Marcus Evans VCU
- Kihei Clark Virginia