Nov. 7, 2007

South Carolina’s Devan Downey has been selected as a 2008 Pre-Season candidate for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. Downey is the second Gamecock in a row to be selected as a pre-season candidate as Tre’ Kelley was last season as well.

The Gamecocks open their regular season schedule on Fri., Nov. 9 when they host South Carolina State at 8 pm.

Downey transferred to USC from Cincinnati after being named to the Big East All-Freshman team and sat out last season. He scored 27 points with seven steals in his first action as a Gamecock in the exhibition win over Guilford College Monday night.

Bob Cousy, also known as “Mr. Basketball,” is considered the prototype of basketball point guards. He led teams to championships at both the college and pro level. Even after his retirement from professional basketball in 1963 he went on to become a very successful basketball coach at Boston College. The Cousy Award is a prestigious award that exemplifies all that Bob Cousy has created and is given to the basketball point guard who best represents leadership, vision, and teamwork.

The Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award is presented annually by The Basketball Hall of Fame and The Hartford. A 30-member panel of basketball experts will select finalists for the Cousy Award; among which will be Athlon Sports Senior Editor Mitch Light.

You can set up an interview with Mitch by simply responding to this email or by contacting Shawna Jones at Shawna.Jones@athlonsports.com.

Please visit the website at www.cousyaward.com to find out more information.