State’s Hubbard on Cousy Award preseason watch list

by Matt Dunaway, MSU Athletics Director/Communications

Oct. 28, 2024 Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard was recognized as one of 20 players on the prestigious Bob Cousy Award Watch List announced Monday by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

The annual Bob Cousy Award, named after the Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard, celebrates its 22nd year by highlighting the top point guard in Division I men’s college basketball. 

The Naismith Starting Five Awards are named after Cousy [point guard], Jerry West [shooting guard], Julius Erving [small forward], Karl Malone [power forward] and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar [center].

As a program, the Bulldogs have had a player listed for one of the Naismith Starting Five Awards on six occasions. Most recently, Tolu Smith III was listed on the 2023-24 Malone Award preseason list. Reggie Perry was tabbed a top 5 finalist for the 2019-20 Malone Award whereas Quinndary Weatherspoon was selected among 10 finalists for the 2018-19 West Award.

In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Cousy Award will be narrowed to 10. Then in late February, to just 5. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy, and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected.

The selection committees for the Cousy Award are composed of top men’s college basketball personnel which includes media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. 

The winners of the 2025 Cousy will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the men’s starting five.

Fans are encouraged to participate in fan voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, November 1. More information on fan voting will be provided by the Naismith Hall of Fame later in the week.

Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Tristen Newton, Connecticut (2024), Markquis Nowell, Kansas State (2023), Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (2021), Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011), and Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s (2004).

For this year’s award, Hubbard is one of six SEC players on the Cousy Award list. He is joined by Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida) Jordan Pope (Texas) Mark Sears (Alabama) Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M) and Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee).

Hubbard is coming off one of the nation’s most electric seasons by a true freshman last season. He garnered All-SEC Second-Team status, won the SEC’s Freshman of the Week honor five times and was the first freshmen to secure the Bailey Howell Trophy which is awarded to the state of Mississippi’s top collegiate player.

Hubbard racked up 17.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. His 17.1 points per game are fourth-most among SEC returning players in 2024-25 and were tops among SEC freshmen a season ago. Hubbard amassed nine of his 13 outings of 20-plus points versus SEC opponents, while his 13 performances of 20-plus led the nation among true freshmen.  

The 598 points for the Madison, Mississippi native was a State freshman record and ranked 8th for a single season. He drained 108 three-pointers which were both overall and freshmen single season records for the Maroon and White.

Hubbard ranked among the SEC’s top 15 in three-pointers made (3.09 – 1st), three-point field goal percentage (35.5 – 5th), free throw percentage (85.3 – 9th) and field goal percentage (35.5 – 15th).