Collison Named Finalist For Bob Cousy Award

By Bruin Basketball Report

UCLA's sophomore Darren Collison has been named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, an honor presented annually to the nation's top collegiate point-guard.   

Finalists were announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in conjunction with The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc, earlier today.

After the departure last summer of Jordan Farmar to the NBA, Collison was anointed the starting point-guard of the Bruins this season.  He has performed well on both ends of the court, averaging 13.1 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.4 steals while shooting 52,4% from the field including 50% on three-pointers.

"Collison is the key to their whole ballclub," Arizona Head coach Lute Olson said. "He just puts a lot of pressure defensively, gets a lot of steals, puts a lot of pressure on the defense to keep him out of the lane, and he's very, very quick."

Other award finalists include; Mustafa Shakur (Arizona), Dominic James (Marquette), Ronald Steele (Alabama), and Taurean Green (Florida). 

One glaring omission from the finalist list is Aaron Brooks (Oregon).

2007 BOB COUSY AWARD PRESENTED BY THE HARTFORD FINALISTS

DIVISION I

Bobby Brown	Cal State Fullerton
Darren Collison	UCLA
Levance Fields	Pittsburgh
Taurean Green	Florida
Dominic James	Marquette
Jared Jordan	Marist
Acie Law	Texas A&M
Ty Lawson	North Carolina
Russell Robinson	Kansas
Ramon Sessions	Nevada
Sean Singletary	Virginia
Mustafa Shakur	Arizona
Ronald Steele	Alabama

                              

DIVISION II

Anthony Atkinson	Barton College
Zach Whiting	Chaminade University

                     

DIVISION III

Andrew Olson	Amherst College
David Arsenault	Grinnell College

(photo credit: Jack Rosenfeld)