Photo credit - IU Athletics

Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis included on Naismith Trophy watch list

Indiana sophomore forward Trayce Jackson-Davis continues to collect preseason recognition.

On Thursday he was added to one of college basketball’s most prestigious lists — the Naismith Trophy watch list.

Each year the Naismith Trophy is presented to the top player in men’s college basketball.

Two former Indiana players (Scott May and Calbert Cheaney) have won the award.

Jackson-Davis is one of eight Big Ten players included on the list of 50 players.

Below is the full release from IU Athletics with more information.

See also:  Trayce Jackson-Davis 2020-21 player preview


2021 JERSEY MIKE’S NAISMITH TROPHY WATCH LIST INCLUDES IU’S TRAYCE-JACKSON DAVIS

New Season Tips Off with 50 Players to Watch Competing for the Top Honor in Men’s College Basketball 

ATLANTA (November 19, 2020) – The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today the 2021 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Watch List, which 50 of the top players in college basketball.

Among the candidates is Indiana sophomore forward and Preseason All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis.  A graduate of Center Grove High School, Jackson-Davis was named third-team All-Big Ten after he started all 32 games and averaged a team-high 13.5 points for the Hoosiers last season.  He was one of only four freshmen in the country to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, free throw percentage and blocks.  He finished second in the league in field goal percentage (56.6), and 7th in blocked shots (1.9) and rebounds (8.4).  He also led the team with 115 free throws made in 168 attempts and set an IU freshman record with 270 rebounds.  He led the team with 59 blocked shots.  He also was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team. He also is on the watch list for the Karl Malone Award.

Hoosier legends Scott May (1976) and Calbert Cheaney (1993) are former recipients of the award.  Victor Oladipo was a finalist for the honor in 2013.

“The beginning of the season is filled with excitement, optimism and anticipation as each team and every player is undefeated, making the race for the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy wide open. While these 50 candidates are those to keep an eye on, there will be plenty of others who will enter the competition throughout the season,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “This year will be especially exciting as players who were unable to finish their seasons last year have even more to prove.”

A list of the midseason 30 team will be released in early February, followed by the 10 national semifinalists and four finalists on March 4, 2021, and March 16, 2021, respectively. Players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. The 2021 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy will be awarded during the Final Four at the Naismith Awards Brunch on April 4, 2021.

“As we sponsor the collegiate honor for the first year, Jersey Mike’s is excited to partner with the Naismith Trophy,” said Rich Hope, chief marketing officer, Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc. “We look forward to following these stellar athletes throughout the season and honoring one of these talented players as the winner of the 2021 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy.”

2021 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s Preseason Watch List

NAME CLASS POSITION SCHOOL CONFERENCE
Joel Ayayi Jr. G Gonzaga WCC
Scottie Barnes Fr. G Florida State ACC
Charles Bassey Jr. C Western Kentucky C-USA
B.J. Boston Fr. F Kentucky SEC
James Bouknight So. G UConn BIG EAST
Garrison Brooks Sr. F North Carolina ACC
Greg Brown Fr. F Texas Big 12
Jared Butler Jr. G Baylor Big 12
Marcus Carr Jr. G Minnesota Big Ten
Terrence Clarke Fr. G Kentucky SEC
Kofi Cockburn So. C Illinois Big Ten
Jalen Crutcher Sr. G Dayton A-10
Cade Cunningham Fr. G Oklahoma State Big 12
Oscar da Silva Sr. F Stanford Pac-12
Ayo Dosunmu Jr. G Illinois Big Ten
Marcus Garrett Sr. G Kansas Big 12
Luka Garza Sr. C Iowa Big Ten
Collin Gillespie Sr. G Villanova BIG EAST
Kellan Grady Sr. G Davidson A-10
A.J. Green Jr. G Northern Iowa MVC
Sam Hauser Sr. F Virginia ACC
Aaron Henry Jr. F Michigan State Big Ten
Matthew Hurt So. F Duke ACC
Trayce Jackson-Davis So. F Indiana Big Ten
Jalen Johnson Fr. F Duke ACC
Keyontae Johnson Jr. F Florida SEC
David Johnson So. G Louisville ACC
Corey Kispert Sr. F Gonzaga WCC
Isaiah Livers Sr. F Michigan Big Ten
Caleb Love Fr. G North Carolina ACC
Sandro Mamukelashvili Sr. F Seton Hall BIG EAST
Remy Martin Sr. G Arizona State Pac-12
Caleb Mills So. G Houston AAC
Evan Mobley Fr. F USC Pac-12
Wendell Moore Jr. So. F Duke ACC
Yves Pons Sr. G Tennessee SEC
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl So. F Villanova BIG EAST
Colbey Ross Sr. G Pepperdine WCC
Fatts Russell Sr. G Rhode Island A-10
Javonte Smart Jr. G LSU SEC
Chris Smith Sr. G UCLA Pac-12
Jalen Suggs Fr. G Gonzaga WCC
MaCio Teague Sr. G Baylor Big 12
Drew Timme So. F Gonzaga WCC
Oscar Tshiebwe So. F West Virginia Big 12
Trendon Watford So. F LSU SEC
Trevion Williams Jr. F Purdue Big Ten
Ziaire Williams Fr. F Stanford Pac-12
McKinley Wright IV Sr. G Colorado Pac-12
Marcus Zegarowski Jr. G Creighton BIG EAST

ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB

Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men’s and women’s college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men’s and women’s college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA’s Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women’s recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include Jersey Mike’s and Werner Ladder.


Find us on Facebook:  thedailyhoosier

You can follow us on Twitter:  @daily_hoosier

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no additional cost to you.