Bob Cousy Award Watch List (2025-26)

The following post features this year’s selections to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List (2025-26).

Honoring the best at the position, the Bob Cousy Award Watch List names the top point guards heading into the 2025–26 men’s college basketball season.

Read: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List (Best Centers)

Related: Jerry West Award Watch List (Best SGs)

Some college basketball teams have an NBA-level PG capable of singlehandedly leading their team to victory. These are the PGs you need to know about when betting on college basketball.

So, who are the best PGs in 2025-26? Here’s what you need to know.

Overview

Braden Smith’s 2024-25 season was a historic campaign that cemented his status as the nation’s premier point guard. The Purdue junior won the Bob Cousy Award after averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and a nation-leading 8.7 assists per game. For his performance, he was named a Consensus First-Team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year, becoming the first Boilermaker to ever win the Cousy Award. He broke the Big Ten record for assists in conference play and is one of only two players in conference history (alongside Magic Johnson) to hit 450 points, 250 assists, 125 rebounds, and 60 steals in a

How the Award Works

Throughout the season, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame selection committee assesses the performance of the point guards on the preseason watchlist. At mid-season, the committee narrows the candidates down to a smaller group of semifinalists before selecting the five finalists. The winner is chosen by a selection committee consisting of a mixture of media members and former Bob Cousy Award winners.

Bob Cousy Award Watch List (2025-26)

Below is a table displaying the players on the Bob Cousy Award Watch List (2025-26). Click here for the official Bob Cousy Award Watch List.

Player Spotlights

Braden Smith (Purdue Boilermakers)

Smith enters his senior season with the most decorated resume, looking to become the first player in the award’s history to be a repeat winner. His case is built on unprecedented efficiency and production: he is the reigning Cousy Award winner, Big Ten Player of the Year, and a Consensus First-Team All-American after averaging 15.8 points and a nation-leading 8.7 assists last season. His primary goal is a National Championship, and if he remains the engine of the highly-ranked Purdue offense while challenging the NCAA’s all-time assist record, his established pedigree makes him the outright favorite.

Darryn Peterson (Kansas Jayhawks)

Peterson is the high-ceiling newcomer in the race, bringing elite freshman phenom status to a top-tier program. The Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year steps into the starting role for Bill Self’s squad with immense offensive creativity and poise, already drawing national attention after a spectacular exhibition debut. His pathway to the award is through immediate statistical dominance, leveraging his high usage and talent to put up numbers rarely seen by a first-year player. If Peterson can maintain his scoring punch while demonstrating elite floor generalship, he has the “new blood” narrative to challenge Smith.

Donovan Dent (UCLA Bruins)

Dent is positioned for a massive breakout after transferring to UCLA for his senior season. His case is built on proven volume and efficiency; as a junior at New Mexico, he averaged 20.4 points and 6.4 assists per game and was named the Mountain West Player of the Year. His move to a major conference team like UCLA, which gives him a larger national platform, maximizes his visibility. If Dent can maintain his high scoring and assist totals while anchoring Mick Cronin’s system with the same efficiency he displayed last year, he will easily earn the final five finalist spot and could win the award.

Bennett Stirtz (Iowa Hawkeyes)

Stirtz is a high-reward candidate who follows his coach to Iowa, where he is set to be the cornerstone of the Big Ten offense. His candidacy is fueled by his breakout junior season at Drake, where he was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and led the NCAA in minutes played while averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.1 steals. His case is defined by elite two-way production and proven statistical volume. If Stirtz can maintain his hyper-efficient scoring and assist-to-turnover ratio against Big Ten competition, his high-motor, high-minutes style makes him a compelling dark horse.

Elliot Cadeau (Michigan Wolverines)

Cadeau is a strong contender who is poised for a significant statistical leap in his sophomore season. His case is built on elite playmaking skills and improved shooting, a key area of weakness last year. Cadeau has consistently displayed superb court vision, ranking among the nation’s best pure distributors. If he can maintain the improved three-point shooting he flashed in the offseason while driving the offense and maximizing the scoring ability of his teammates, his combination of high assists and overall offensive facilitation for a perennial national title contender will earn him serious recognition from the voters.

Bob Cousy Award Winners (2015 – Present)

The table below highlights every Bob Cousy Award winner since 2015.

Conclusion

In conclusion, identifying the top point guards is wise when betting on college basketball. Keeping tabs on the best PGs (and their teams) will help you stay on the winning side.