Smith Jr. joins Bob Cousy Award watch list before regular-season debut

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Jordan Smith Jr. is trying to become the third John Calipari point guard to win the Bob Cousy Award. He’s getting a head start before his first regular-season game.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday that the Arkansas freshman made the 2027 Bob Cousy Award watch list. Twenty players were picked.

Calipari has already coached two winners. Tyler Ulis won it in 2016, and Darius Acuff Jr. added another one in 2026.

The award is given to the best point guard in NCAA Division I men’s college basketball. It’s in its 24th year.

It carries the name of Bob Cousy, a former Holy Cross guard who later starred for the Boston Celtics. He’s a member of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 1971.

Smith’s college stat sheet is still blank for games that count. That hasn’t stopped people from paying attention.

A high school career that got noticed

There’s a reason the Razorbacks were glad to land him.

Smith was the consensus National High School Player of the Year last season.

He played in the McDonald’s All-American Game. He also suited up in the Nike Hoops Summit and the Jordan Brand Classic.

Four outlets put him on their first-team All-America squads. Those were MaxPreps, USA Today, Sporting News and Naismith Awards.

That’s a nice list to bring to campus. It won’t help him much against a veteran guard pressing him full court in conference play, though.

Smith will have to earn the rest on his own.

The rest of the field

The SEC grabbed eight of the 20 spots, counting Smith.

Alabama’s Aden Holloway and Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford are on the list. Florida guard Boogie Fland is too.

LSU’s Donovan Dent and Missouri’s Jason Crowe Jr. got the nod. So did Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner and Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard.

Big East and Big Ten guards picked up several spots. UConn’s Silas Demary Jr., St. John’s Quinn Ellis and Marquette’s Nigel James Jr. are in. Indiana’s Markus Burton, Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau and Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. joined them.

The ACC added Miami’s Acaden Lewis, Virginia’s Chance Mallory and Louisville’s Jackson Shelstad.

West Virginia’s Miles Sadler, BYU’s Robert Wright III and Houston’s Dedan Thomas Jr. complete the group.

Memphis closes out the preseason

The Hogs wrap up exhibition play Wednesday (Oct. 28) against the Memphis Tigers.

It’s their second and final tuneup before the season starts.

The game tips at 7 p.m. and will stream on SEC Network+. You can also listen to the game statewide or on ESPN Arkansas 93.7 and 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in Fort Smith and the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.