SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves was selected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s preseason watch list for the 2024 Jerry West Award on Tuesday. Named after the Naismith Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player, the award is in its 10th year.
Reeves, who was named to the list a season ago, is the reigning Co-Southeastern Conference Sixth Man of the Year and UK’s leading returning scorer. The Chicago native averaged 14.4 points per game and made a team-high 80 3-pointers at a 39.8% clip a season ago. He reached double-figure scoring in 26 contests, including a career-high 37 points at Arkansas. Against the Razorbacks, he was 12 of 17 from the field and a perfect 11 of 11 from the charity stripe. He was tabbed the MVP of UK’s GLOBL JAM after pacing the Cats in scoring with 23.0 points per game and 4.5 made 3-pointers per outing.
He was selected to the preseason All-SEC second team last week.
Reeves is one of 20 candidates on the list for best shooting guard after D.J. Wagner was named to the Bob Cousy Award watch list on Monday. Malik Monk is the only previous Wildcat to win the prestigious award when he took home the honor in 2017. Other SEC candidates for the award include Florida’s Riley Kugel, Tennessee’s Santiago Vescovi and Arkansas’ Tramon Mark.
Fans are encouraged to participate in voting in each of the three rounds for the Naismith awards. In late January, all of the lists will be narrowed down to 10 players and five in February. Winners will be announced at a to be determined date.
The Cats will play exhibition contests against Georgetown College on Oct. 27 and Kentucky State on Nov. 2 at Rupp Arena. Kentucky’s regular season begins at home against New Mexico State on Nov. 6 with an 8 p.m. ET tip.
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