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.
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