Tennessee point guard Kennedy Chandler was one of 20 college players named to the Bob Cousy Award Preseason Watch List, Monday.
The Bob Cousy Award— which is in its 19th year of existence— honors the top point guard in the country each season. The award, and its watch list, is chosen by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Last season, Illinois All-American Ayo Dosunmu.
The watch list will be cut to 10 names in January and then five names in February before the award is given out in March.
Chandler, a former top 10 recruit who is the highest rates signee in the Rick Barnes’ era, is the only true freshman who made the preseason watch list.
Alabama’s Jahvon Quinerly, Kentucky’s Sahvir Wheeler and Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen Jr. join Chandler as SEC players that made the 20-player list.
Expectations are high for Chandler. The Memphis native chose the Vols over his hometown Tigers, Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke.
Chandler has impressed so far in the three practices the media has been able to watch this preseason.
The 6-foot-1 guard spent this summer playing for the 12-man USA Basketball Men’s Under 19 in the FIBA U19 World Cup. Chandler and the rest of the young college players helped the USA win gold in the event.
Tennessee’s 2021-22 season is just over three weeks away as the Vols open the season with UT-Martin. Rick Barnes’ seventh team landed at No. 18 in the inaugural AP poll Monday.
