2 ASU men's basketball players on national award watch lists

ASU men's basketball has added Jayden Quaintance and BJ Freeman to the Preseason Awards Watch List as its first members in 2021, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced.

Quaintance was among 20 candidates for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, given to the best center in the country, and Freeman was among 20 candidates for the Julius Erving Award that recognizes the best small forward.

Quaintance's placement on an awards watch list for centers is ironic, considering head coach Bobby Hurley said on Sept. 27 that the 17-year-old is “more of a point guard than a center.”

“He is 1.90 meters tall, has really good footwork, he can dribble the ball and goes deep. He can pass the ball,” Hurley said. “He’s one of our best passers for a big guy. He’s very advanced for someone who just turned 17 in July.”

In a 103-47 loss at Duke that didn't have many bright spots, Quaintance was the bright spot. He finished the game with team highs in points (11, tied with Basheer Jihad), rebounds (six), assists (three, tied with Alston Mason) and blocks (two).

What a move @qjayhoops 🤯

📺 ACC Network pic.twitter.com/fFeR24WR1X

— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) October 27, 2024

Quaintance was the only Sun Devil with more than two shots made (5 of 13 overall).

Freeman started alongside Quaintance but, like much of the team, struggled to hit shots. He made 2 of 9 shots from the floor, including 2 of 7 from distance.

The wing was extremely productive at UW Milwaukee, averaging 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists and a Horizon League-best 21.1 points per game.

Remy Martin was the final Sun Devil to be named to the preseason national honors watch list. He was up for the Bob Cousy Award as the best point guard in 2021. Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu, now with the Chicago Bulls, won the award this season.

The Arizona Wildcats were featured on both lists, as Mo Krivas was among the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award candidates and KJ Lewis was among the Julius Erving Award candidates.

Arizona guard Caleb Love and Grand Canyon winger Tyon Grant-Foster were named to the Naismith Men's Player of the Year overall watch list.

Here's which Big 12 players were on the lists, making up eight of the 40 total candidates:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award candidates from the Big 12:

– Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State

– Mo Krivas, Arizona

–Hunter Dickinson, Kansas

Julius Erving Award candidates from the Big 12:

– BJ Freeman, Arizona State

– KJ Lewis, Arizona

– Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State

– AJ Storr, Kansas

– Tucker DeVries, West Virginia