SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Penn State men’s basketball graduate student Ace Baldwin Jr. has been named a top 10 candidate for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award, 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.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting on Friday, February 7, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Baldwin Jr. has shined this season, averaging team-best marks of 14.1 points and 7.8 assists per game to go along with 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest. His 7.8 assists per game ranks fourth in all of Division I, while his 93.3% free throw percentage ranks fifth nationally.
The Baltimore, Md. Native has notched five points-assists double-doubles this season and has tallied double-digit assists in more games (6) than he did all of last season (4), including a single-game school record 16 helpers on Dec. 14 vs. Coppin State.
Baldwin Jr. owns career marks of 1,593 points, 782 assists and 313 steals, making him the only active Division I player and one of just nine Division I players since the 1947-48 season (77 years) to accumulate career marks of 1,500+ points, 700+ assists and 300+ steals.
He is the NCAA’s active Division I leader in career steals with 313 and is poised to break into the top 30 of the NCAA’s all-time steals leaders this season. His 782 assists are second amongst active Division I players.
Baldwin Jr. is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He earned the following honors a season ago: Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist, Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Finalist, NABC Second Team All-District 7 selection, third-team All-Big Ten (coaches & media) pick and Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors. 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.
The Cousy Award top 10 list will be narrowed to just five in March, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected. The selection committee for the Bob Cousy Award is composed of top men’s and women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
2025 Bob Cousy Award Top 10 Candidates
Mark Sears – Alabama
Walter Clayton Jr. – Florida
Ryan Nembhard – Gonzaga
Keshon Gilbert – Iowa State
Kam Jones – Marquette
Ace Baldwin Jr. – Penn State
Braden Smith – Purdue
Dylan Harper – Rutgers
Zakai Ziegler – Tennessee
Javon Small – West Virginia
The 2024-25 Penn State men’s basketball season is presented by Highmark Health.