We’re past the midway part of the NCAA Basketball season and into February. That means individual player award watchlists are coming out. The first one is the Bob Cousy Award for the best point guard in the country. Last season, Tristen Newton of the national champion-winning UConn Huskies won the award.
But who has the best chance to win it this year among the 10 finalists? Here’s a current power ranking of where they stand.
10. Ace Baldwin - Penn State Nittany Lions
2024-25 season stats: 14.0 ppg and 7.7 apg
Throughout his career at VCU and now Penn State, Baldwin has been one of the best two-way players in the country. He’s having another fantastic season with the Nittany Lions, including 17 points and six assists in a win over Purdue. His problem is more with the team being 3-9 in Big Ten and in danger of missing the conference tournament altogether. That’s going to ruin his odds of winning.
9. Zakai Zeigler - Tennessee Volunteers
2024-25 season stats: 12.7 ppg and 7.5 apg
The senior leader for the Vols is putting up career-high numbers across the board, including leading the SEC in passing. His top performance of the season includes 17 points and a career-high 15 assists in a win over Middle Tennessee. He’s currently dealing with an ankle injury, and the Vols have fallen in the conference standings but one big push by them can get Zeigler back in the mix.
8. Kam Jones - Marquette Golden Eagles
2024-25 season stats: 18.8 ppg and 6.0 apg
After former Big East POY guard Tyler Kolek moved on, Jones slid over to be the team’s PG. And it’s worked, with Jones being an all-around star for the Golden Eagles, including a triple-double in a win over Purdue. Marquette has also faced a bump and might be the fourth-best team in the conference so he’ll need a strong finish himself.
7. Ryan Nembhard - Gonzaga Bulldogs
2024-25 season stats: 11.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 10 apg
As the only player in the country averaging double figures in assists, Nembhard has more than earned his spot on the list. He has 14 games with 10+ assists, including 15 in a loss to Santa Clara. And that’s been the issue for him and Gonzaga, losing too many games and currently unranked. Had the Bulldogs been ranked in the top 10, Nembhard may even be a favorite to win.
6. Dylan Harper - Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2024-25 season stats: 19.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, and 4.1 apg
Harper has been one of the best freshmen in the country and has been the defacto PG for Rutgers. He’s had some massive individual performances, including 36 points against Notre Dame and 37 versus Alabama. However, with the team barely over .500 and having a long way away from making the Big Dance, it’s hard to see how he can win this prize.
5. Keshon Gilbert - Iowa State Cyclones
2024-25 season stats: 15.0 ppg and 4.3 apg
Tamin Lipsey has been the go-to guard for ISU these past couple of seasons, but the senior Gilbert has taken over this year with great results. He was especially strong in the Maui Invitational, including 23 points against Auburn and 24 in a win over Dayton. Look for Gilbert to be in the running as long as the Cyclones remain national contenders.
4. Javon Small - West Virginia Mountaineers
2024-25 season stats: 19.1 ppg and 5.2 apg
From a narrative perspective, Small should be in the running. He’s carried the Mountaineers into the NCAA Tournament after being picked near the bottom of the Big 12 in the preseason. The 6’2 playmaker has scored in double figures in all but one game, including 13 points and 11 assists in the massive road win at Kansas.
3. Mark Sears - Alabama Crimson Tide
2024-25 season stats: 18.1 ppg and 5.1 apg
Sears got off to a slow start this season, but the former All-American is back playing at a high level in the SEC gauntlet. Most recently, Sears had 17 points and nine assists in a win over Mississippi State, along with 22 points and 11 assists in a win over Oklahoma. His consistent level of greatness and the team’s success will put him on the shortlist toward the end of the year.
2. Walter Clayton Jr. - Florida Gators
2024-25 season stats: 17.4 ppg and 3.8 apg
Another guard on a top-tier SEC team is Clayton, who leaves Florida in scoring while shooting 45% from the field. He has six games of 25+ points, including 33 in the shootout loss to Kentucky and 28 on the road at Missouri. The guard with the best chance to overcome Sears for SEC POY may be Clayton.
1. Braden Smith - Purdue Boilermakers
2024-25 season stats: 16.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, and 8.6 apg
If there was any question as to whether Smith needed Zach Edey to be great, this season has proved it. The junior guard has become an elite scorer while remaining one of the best passers in the country. He has nine games of 10+ assists, including a 17-point and 10-assist game in the win over Alabama. With Purdue being a top-10 caliber team again, Smith has emerged as a clear favorite for the Bob Cousy Award.