UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men’s basketball graduate student Ace Baldwin Jr. has been named to the Naismith Starting 5 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Monday afternoon.
The annual Bob Cousy Award, named after the Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard, celebrates its 22nd year by highlighting the top point guard in Division I men’s college basketball.
Baldwin Jr. enters his fifth year of eligibility in 2024-25 as the only active Division I player with 1,000+ career points (1,297), 600+ career assists (618) and 250+ career steals (271).
The point guard is coming off a senior season in which he was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, a Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist, a Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Finalist, an NABC Second Team All-District 7 selection, a third-team All-Big Ten (coaches & media) pick and a Big Ten All-Defensive Team honoree.
The Baltimore, Md. native wrapped up his first season in the Blue & White leading the Nittany Lions with 14.2 points, 6.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game in 2023-24. He was one of just four Big Ten players since 1992-93 (31 years) and the first since 2011-12 to finish a season averaging 14.0+ points per game, 6.0+ assists per game and 2.0+ steals per game.
Baldwin Jr.’s 2.67 steals per game in 2023-24 were the most by a Big Ten player in a single season since the 1992-93 season (31 years). He finished the season ranked fourth in the country in steals per game (2.67), fifth in steals (88), 20th in assists (199) and 24th in assists per game (6.0). His 199 assists last season were the second-most all-time in a single season at Penn State, while his 88 steals ranked third-most in the Penn State single-season record book.
The point guard transferred to Penn State ahead of the 2023-24 season following three standout years at VCU in which he was a two-time All-Conference pick and the 2023 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, November 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five players. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Bob Cousy Award is composed of top men’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
Baldwin Jr. and the Nittany Lions kick off the 2024-25 season on Monday, Nov. 4, when Penn State hosts Binghamton inside the Bryce Jordan Center.
Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List
Mark Sears – Alabama
Jeremy Roach – Baylor
Tyrese Proctor – Duke
Walter Clayton Jr. – Florida
Malik 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 Jr. – Penn State
Braden Smith – Purdue
Dylan Harper – Rutgers
Zakai Zeigler – Tennessee
Jordan Pope – Texas
Wade Taylor IV – Texas A&M
Elijah Hawkins – Texas Tech