TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama men’s basketball guard Labaron Philon Jr. is one of 20 candidates selected to the 2025-26 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award Watch List, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Monday.

Named after Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor now in its 23rd year recognizes the top point guards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

• For the second straight season an Alabama point guard has been named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List (Mark Sears in 2024-25)
• Enters his sophomore season as a Preseason First Team All-SEC selection
• Philon Jr. is the sixth UA player to named First Team All-SEC Preseason under Oats, joining John Petty Jr. (2021), Jaden Shackelford (2022), Jahvon Quinerly (2022), Grant Nelson (2024) and Mark Sears (2025)
• Averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game during his freshman campaign
• Ranked No. 8 in the SEC in assists and No. 4 in assist/turnover ratio (2.2) last season
• Was a 2025 SEC All-Freshman Team honoree, becoming the eighth UA freshman to receive the honor under Coach Oats