Texas Tech basketball PG Elijah Hawkins on prestigious award watchlist

This season, the Texas Tech basketball team will be powered in large part by the numerous transfers head coach Grant McCasland and his staff brought into the program over the summer. One of the most important additions to the roster is senior point guard Elijah Hawkins, a transfer who played for Minnesota last season.

Now, Hawkins is being honored by being named to the Bob Cousy Award preseason watchlist. In fact, he is one of only 20 players named to the watchlist, which was released by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Cousy Award is presented annually to the top point guard in the country. Past winners include Tristen Newton, Connecticut (2024), Markquis Nowell, Kansas State (2023), Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (2021), Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011), and Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph's (2004).

The award is named after the Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard, Bob Cousy. He was a six-time NBA champion and the 1957 NBA Most Valuable Player.

As for Hawkins, he arrives at Texas Tech amid considerable fanfare. Last season, his first at Minnesota after two years at Howard University, he averaged 9.5 points and 7.5 assists per game.

For his career, he has amassed 1,077 points, 588 assists, 169 steals and 10 double-doubles. Last season, he was fourth nationally with 247 total assists helping him earn All-Big 10 honorable mention honors.

Other members of ths Cousy Award watchlist include Mark Sears (Alabama), Jeremy Roach (Baylor), Tyrese Proctor (Duke), Walter Clayton (Florida), Malick Mack (Georgetown), Ryan Nembhard (Gonzaga), Myles Rice (Indiana), Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State), Dajuan Harris (Kansas), Josh Hubbard (Mississippi State), Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), Markus Burton (Notre Dame), Bruce Thornton (Ohio State), Ace Baldwin (Penn State), Braden Smith (Purdue), Dylan Harper (Rutgers), Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee), Jordan Pope (Texas) and Wade Taylor (Texas A&M).