Austin Goosby is barely into his college career, and he is already on a national watch list.
The Texas freshman was named Tuesday as one of 20 preseason candidates for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, an honor that goes to the top shooting guard in Division I men’s basketball. The award is named after Hall of Famer Jerry West, who was inducted in 1980.
The field will tighten as the season moves along. The watch list is set to be trimmed to 10 players in February, then narrowed again to five finalists in March. The winner of the 2027 West Award will be announced next year, and the list can still change before those finalists are set.
Goosby’s inclusion is hardly a shock given the way scouts have viewed him. The Dynamic Prep product was ranked by 247Sports as the 19th-best player in the 2026 class and the No. 2 player in Texas. Texas was thrilled when he chose to begin his college run in Austin.
He arrives with a résumé that already stands out. In his final season at Dynamic Prep, Goosby averaged 16.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while leading the program to a 39-5 record and a trip to the Chipotle Nationals semifinals. He also suited up in both the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic during his high school career.
Goosby won’t be the only Texas freshman drawing attention when the season starts. The Longhorns’ 2026 class was ranked among the best in the country and also includes Bo Ogden, Marcus Spears Jr., Joe Sterling, and Coleman Elkins. If that group clicks quickly, Texas could have plenty to celebrate.
Goosby’s first shot at adding to his early buzz comes when Texas opens the regular season on November 2nd against Chicago State.
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