SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has selected Bryant University senior men’s basketball player Charles Pride as one of 20 watch list members for the 2023 Jerry West Award.
Named after Class of 1980 Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player Jerry West, the annual honor in its ninth year recognizes the best shooting guards in Division I men’s college basketball. A committee The National College Basketball Association’s top 20 prospect watch lists. “Each of the student-athletes nominated for this honor has emulated Jerry West’s skills on the court and should be extremely proud of this accomplishment,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Our committee, along with Mr. West, is honored to watch this incredible group this season.”
The Pride’s national recognition comes on the heels of one of the best all-around seasons in program history. The Syracuse player averaged 17.7 ppg. Pride was named to the USBWA and NABC All-District teams and was a First Team All-NEC selection as he helped the Black and Gold win the regular-season and tournament titles for the first time in program history in 2021- 22. He posted 10 doubles and 11 20-point games, including a DI program record 44 game against Saint Francis U.
Pride enters his fourth season at Smithfield as one of the most accomplished players in program history. He ranks fourth in DI program history with 1,104 points and third with 573 rebounds, joining Alex Francis as the only players in DI program history to score 1,000+ points and 500+ rebounds. The Pride also ranks in the top 10 in assists (186) and steals (101). The Pride has increased his scoring average in each of his previous three seasons and is averaging over 30 minutes per game in his career.
Fans are encouraged to participate in the Fan Vote, presented by Dell Technologies, in each of the three rounds, beginning Friday, October 28. In late January, the 20-player watch list for the 2023 Jerry West Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to West and the Hall of Fame selection committee, where a winner will be chosen.
The 2023 Jerry West Award winner will be presented at a date to be determined, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), the Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), the Karl Malone Award (Power Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award are Johnny Davis, Wisconsin (2022), Chris Duarte, Oregon (2021), Myles Powell, Seton Hall (2020), RJ Barrett, Duke (2019), Carsen Edwards, Purdue (2018), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).
For more information on the 2023 Jerry West Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #WestAward on Twitter and Instagram.
2023 Jerry West Award Nominees
Nick Smith Jr. Arkansas
Cason Wallace Kentucky
Adam Flagler Baylor
Taevion Kinsey Marshall
Charles Pride Bryant
Isaiah Wong Miami (Fl.)
Tyrese Proctor Duke
Isaiah Mosley Missouri
Malachi Smith Gonzaga
Terquavion Smith NC State
Rasir Bolton Gonzaga
Dane Goodwin Notre Dame
Marcus Sasser Houston
Matt Bradley San Diego State
Terrence Shannon Jr. Illinois
Joseph Girard III Syracuse
Kevin McCullar Jr. Kansas City
Santiago Bishops Tennessee
Antonio Reeves Kentucky
Amari Bailey UCLA
About Jerry West
Jerry West attended West Virginia University from 1956-1960 and averaged 24.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game. He led his team to the NCAA championship game in 1959 and was named a consensus All-American in 1959 and 1960. In the summer of 1960, he was co-captain of the USA men’s basketball team and won an Olympic gold medal. As a professional player, West played 14 NBA seasons with the Lakers (1960-74) and made the All-NBA first team 10 times (1961-67 and 1969-73). West won an NBA championship in 1972 and was named NBA Finals MVP in 1969 despite his team not winning the championship. He was named a member of the NBA’s All-Time 50th Anniversary Team in 1996 and was ranked as one of the league’s 75 Greatest Players in 2021.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men’s and women’s , amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, at home and abroad. The Hall of Fame Museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo “Court of Dreams.” Best known for its annual Enshrinement Ceremony, which honors the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also hosts over 70 high school and college competitions each year across the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, the museum and its events, visit hoophall.com, follow @hoophall and or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.
