UConn’s next big point guard conversation now has a fresh name attached to it.
Silas Demary Jr. was placed on the Bob Cousy Award watch list Monday afternoon by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, putting the Huskies senior in the mix for the honor that goes to the nation’s top point guard. It’s another sign of how quickly Demary has moved into the center of UConn’s plans heading into this season.
Dan Hurley is expecting him to operate at an All-American level, the same standard he once set for Tristen Newton before Newton’s second year in the program in 2023-24. That worked out well for UConn. Newton went on to become an All-American and win the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award.
Demary arrived from Georgia last season with the idea of becoming UConn’s next great point guard, and his production backed that up. As a junior, he averaged 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game while earning First Team All-Big East honors. He also made the league’s All-Defensive Team and enters this season as the Big East Preseason Player of the Year.
Through the Huskies’ first two preseason wins, over Syracuse and Michigan State, Demary has been even sharper in limited action. He’s putting up 14.5 points, 3.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 28.6 minutes per game, and he also drew votes for the Associated Press Preseason All-America team. CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated each selected him as a Second Team Preseason All-America pick.
UConn’s point guard history gives the watch list nod some real weight. The Huskies have had three Cousy Award winners: Newton in 2024, Kemba Walker in 2011 and Shabazz Napier in 2014.
The full Cousy Award watch list also includes Markus Burton, Indiana; Elliot Cadeau, Michigan; Jason Crowe Jr., Missouri; Donovan Dent, LSU; Quinn Ellis, St. John’s; Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State; Boogie Fland, Florida; Aden Holloway, Alabama; Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State; Nigel James Jr., Marquette; Acaden Lewis, Miami; Chance Mallory, Virginia; Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn; Miles Sadler, West Virginia; Jackson Shelstad, Louisville; Jordan Smith Jr., Arkansas; Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt; Dedan Thomas Jr., Houston and Robert Wright III, BYU.
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UConns Injury Picture Just Changed In A Way Fans Will Feel
UConns preseason health picture got a little brighter ahead of Tuesdays exhibition against Purdue at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford. Sophomore Braylon Mullins is set to take part in the game, giving the Huskies another familiar name back in the mix as they continue to sort out their early-season rotation and get a first real look at where things stand before the games start counting.
Even more notable for UConn was the sight of guard Solo Ball back in practice after wrist surgery, a development that seemed unlikely when the procedure initially pointed toward a season-long absence. The Huskies still have to manage Mullins carefully, but having Ball back on the floor at all changes the tone around this group and gives the staff another piece to evaluate as the exhibition schedule gets underway. [Read more 🡒]