by Mike Cawood

FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas shooting guard Nick Smith Jr., was named to the 20-person watch list for the 2023 Jerry West Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today.

Named after Class of 1980 Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player Jerry West, the annual honor in its ninth year recognizes the top shooting guards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

The award is the latest in a string of preseason honors for the Razorback freshman. Previously Smith was named National Player of the Year by CBSsports, National Newcomer of the Year by Blue Ribbon Magazine, All-American by both publications and the #2 impact freshman in the nation by Andy Katz.

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, in each of the three rounds, starting Friday, October 28. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2023 Jerry West Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February to just five. In March the five finalists will be presented to West and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.

For more information on the 2023 Jerry West Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #WestAward on Twitter and Instagram.

The winner of the 2023 Jerry West Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.

2023 Jerry West Award Candidates*

Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas)

Adam Flagler (Baylor)

Charles Pride (Bryant)

Tyrese Proctor (Duke)

Malachi Smith (Gonzaga)

Rasir Bolton (Gonzaga)

Marcus Sasser (Houston)

Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois)

Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas)

Antonio Reeves (Kentucky)

Cason Wallace (Kentucky)

Taevion Kinsey (Marshall)

Isaiah Wong (Miami, Fla.)

Isiaih Mosley (Missouri)

Terquavion Smith (NC State)

Dane Goodwin (Notre Dame)

Matt Bradley (San Diego State)

Joseph Girard III (Syracuse)

Santiago Vescovi (Tennessee)

Amari Bailey (UCLA)

*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2022-23 season