NEW YORK - Four BIG EAST men's basketball standouts have been named to the 2026-27 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy preseason watch list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today: Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins from UConn, Nigel James Jr. from Marquette, and Tounde Yessoufou from St. John's.
Demary, who is also on the national watchlists for the NABC Player of the Year and the Bob Cousy Award, was selected as the 2026-27 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year in a vote by the league's head coaches. 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.
Mullins, who has also been named to the watchlists for the NABC Player of the Year and the Jerry West Award, was a 2026-27 unanimous selection to the preseason All-BIG EAST first team, announced on Oct. 1. The 6-6 shooting guard was a BIG EAST All-Freshman team selection a season ago and averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 boards, and 1.4 assists per game. He connected on 72 3-pointers a year ago, including an iconic 35-footer with 0.3 seconds left to propel Huskies to their third Final Four in four seasons.
James ranks as one of the most dynamic guards in the country, earning a spot on the Bob Cousy Award watchlist last week. The sophomore was one of three unanimous selections to the 2026-27 preseason All-BIG EAST first team. A season ago, the 6-0 guard was the 2025-26 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and an All-BIG EAST third team pick, averaging 16.4 points, 3.4 boards, 4.9 assists, and 2.0 steals - including a 19.3 points per game clip in league play, posting three 30-point performances against BIG EAST foes during the 2025-26 campaign.
Yessoufou, named to the Julius Erving Award watchlist last week, was a unanimous selection to the 2026-27 preseason All-BIG EAST first team. A five-star ranked transfer from Baylor who averaged 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.0 steals per game last season, Yessoufou earned 2025-26 All-Big 12 honors. During his first year of college basketball, the 6-5 guard set new Baylor freshman records in points (605) and field goals made (226).
Each year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s board publishes the “Naismith Watch” list that is made up of the top 50 players to watch in men’s and women’s college basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, the creator of the game of basketball, the first Naismith trophy was awarded in 1969 to UCLA’s Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The organization also releases a list of 30 midseason Naismith candidates. At the end of the season, the Naismith Trophy is awarded to the player of the year in men’s and women’s college basketball. A national voting academy of leading basketball coaches, administrators and journalists narrows the group down to four finalists based on player performance throughout the season. The final four Naismith finalists will make up the ballot and the player of the year is voted on by the group.