FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas freshman Nick Smith Jr. is one of 20 players on the watch list for the 2023 Jerry West Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday.
The award, in its ninth year, recognizes the top shooting guard in Division I men’s college basketball. Players were selected by a national committee of top college basketball personnel.
More from WholeHogSports: No TV for Hogs' exhibition at Texas
Smith, the Razorbacks’ star guard, is one of five SEC players on the watch list. Kentucky guards Antonio Reeves and Cason Wallace, Missouri’s Isiaih Mosley and Tennessee’s Santiago Vescovi were also selected.
In late January, the watch list will be narrowed to 10 players, and it will be trimmed to five in late February, according to a release. The winner will be selected in March.
No Arkansas player has won the award, but former Razorbacks guard Mason Jones was a finalist in 2020. The lone SEC player to win it is Kentucky’s Malik Monk in 2017.
A preseason first-team All-SEC pick by media members who cover the league, Smith and the Razorbacks defeated Division-II opponent Rogers (Okla.) State 83-49 in an exhibition on Monday. They close the preseason Saturday at Texas.
Arkansas, ranked No. 10 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll, is set to officially open the 2022-23 season on Monday, Nov. 7 against North Dakota State in Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on SEC Network-Plus.
2023 Jerry West Award watch list
Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas)
Adam Flagler (Baylor)
Charles Pride (Bryant)
Tyrese Proctor (Duke)
Malachi Smith (Gonzaga)
Rasir Bolton (Gonzaga)
Marcus Sasser (Houston)
Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois)
Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas)
Antonio Reeves (Kentucky)
Cason Wallace (Kentucky)
Taevion Kinsey (Marshall)
Isaiah Wong (Miami)
Isiaih Mosley (Missouri)
Terquavion Smith (NC State)
Dane Goodwin (Notre Dame)
Matt Bradley (San Diego State)
Joseph Girard III (Syracuse)
Santiago Vescovi (Tennessee)
Amari Bailey (UCLA)