In Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has unveiled the finalists for the prestigious 2026 Bob Cousy Award, recognizing the top point guard in men's college basketball. Among the standout names is Darius Acuff Jr. from Arkansas, who joins a talented group of contenders.
Here are the 2026 Bob Cousy Award Finalists:
- Jaden Bradley, Arizona
- Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
- Kingston Flemings, Houston
- Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
- Braden Smith, Purdue
Fans have the opportunity to make their voices heard starting Friday, March 13, by participating in the Fan Voting at hoophallawards.com. This fan input will serve as one vote in the committee's decision-making process, adding an exciting layer of engagement to the selection.
Later this month, these finalists will be presented to the legendary Bob Cousy, Nancy Lieberman, and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees. These committees include a distinguished panel of college basketball experts, featuring media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2026 Cousy Award will be announced on a date yet to be determined, alongside the other members of the Men’s Starting Five. The lineup of awards also includes the Jerry West Award for Shooting Guard, Julius Erving Award for Small Forward, Karl Malone Award for Power Forward, and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award for Center.
Looking back at past recipients of the Bob Cousy Award, we see a lineage of excellence: Braden Smith from Purdue took home the honor in 2025, following Tristen Newton from UConn in 2024, and Markquis Nowell from Kansas State in 2023. Other notable winners include Ja Morant from Murray State in 2019, Jalen Brunson from Villanova in 2018, Tyler Ulis from Kentucky in 2026, Trey Burke from Michigan in 2013, and Kemba Walker from Connecticut in 2011.
As we await the announcement, it's clear that this year's finalists are poised to continue the tradition of excellence associated with the Bob Cousy Award.