NEW YORK - Three outstanding point guards from the BIG EAST - Silas Demary Jr. from UConn, Quinn Ellis from St. John's, and Nigel James Jr. from Marquette - were among the 25 players nationally named to the 2027 Bob Cousy Award national watchlist.
Demary was tabbed as the 2026-27 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year in a vote by the league's head coaches. The 6-4 senior enters the season as one of the top players in the country and should be a fixture on watch lists for every major national award. Last season, Demary appeared in 39 of 40 games for the Huskies and earned a spot on both the All-BIG EAST first team and All-Defensive team. He averaged 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds, while dishing out a league-best 5.9 assists per game - including averaging 7.4 helpers per outing in league play. The Raleigh, N.C. product reached double-figures on 21 occasions; UConn was 17-4 in those games.
Ellis enters his first season of collegiate basketball at St. John's after an outstanding pre-collegiate career internationally. A season ago, the 6-5 playmaker helped lead Olimpia Milano to its 32nd Serie A title in addition to a victory in the Italian SuperCup, where he earned MVP honors. In 64 games between EuroLeague and Serie A competition, Ellis averaged 7.7 points per outing, shooting 46.6% from the floor, including a 37.7% clip from deep during EuroLeague play. Originally from Sheffield, England, Ellis dished out 4.2 assists per outing and posted a 2.7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
James was one of three unanimous selections to the 2026-27 preseason All-BIG EAST first team. A season ago, the dynamic 6-0 guard was the 2025-26 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and an All-BIG EAST third team pick. He averaged 16.4 points, 3.4 boards, 4.9 assists, and 2.0 steals, posting three 30-point performances against BIG EAST foes during the 2025-26 campaign. In 32 total games played, he registered a 1.77:1 assist/turnover ratio. James is the BIG EAST's top returning scorer, at 19.3 points per game during league play.
Now in its 24th year, the Bob Cousy Award is presented annually to the top point guard in NCAA Division I men’s college basketball through the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where the winner will be selected. The selection committees for the Bob Cousy Award are composed of top college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winners of the 2027 Cousy Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional men's basketball awards being presented include the Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center).