Purdue’s Zach Edey, UNC’s RJ Davis Headline Men’s CBB Hall of Fame Awards

Jack MurrayApril 6, 2024

C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

UNC guard R.J. Davis, UConn guard Tristen Newton and Purdue center Zach Edey were among those given accolades from the College Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday.

Davis won the Jerry West Award, Newton took home the Bob Cousy Award and Edey won the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. Other award winners were Tennessee forward Dalton Knecht and San Diego State forward Jaedon LeDee.

Carolina Basketball @UNC_BasketballRJ Davis becomes the first Tar Heel to win the Jerry West Award 🙌 @ariidavis_

🔗: https://t.co/nDWVWbqksV pic.twitter.com/9Er0ZzdZMp

UConn Men’s Basketball @UConnMBBTristen Newton wins the 2024 @hoophallu Bob Cousy Award, given each year to the top point guard in college basketball.

He joins Kemba Walker (2011) and Shabazz Napier (2014) as the only other Huskies with this distinction. pic.twitter.com/9smZlCfAv2

University of Hoophall @hoophalluThe Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame congratulates @BoilerBall center @Zach_Edey on winning the 2024 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award! 🏆#KareemAward | #HoophallU pic.twitter.com/GUdwP7qdSl

University of Hoophall @hoophalluThe Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame congratulates @Aztec_MBB power forward Jaedon LeDee on winning the 2024 Karl Malone Award! 🏆#MaloneAward | #HoophallU pic.twitter.com/YyjQ9qOt7E

B/R Hoops @brhoopsDalton Knecht wins the Julius Erving award for the nation’s top Small Forward 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AFwifZ1Ejf

Davis became the first player in Tar Heels history to take home the Jerry West Award, which is given to the top men’s shooting guard. He averaged 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 37 games for North Carolina, helping lead the team to a 29-8 record and a trip to the Sweet 16. He was named a consensus All-American and won the ACC Player of the year award.

Newton helped lead the Huskies to the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. His honor as the best men’s point guard comes after he averaged 15 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists. He becomes the third Husky to receive the award, following Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier, who won the award in 2011 and 2014 respectively.

Edey’s win earns him the title of top collegiate center in the nation. He earned this after averaging 25 points, 12.2 rebounds and two assists for the Boilermakers, helping the team earn a No. 1 seed for the second consecutive season.

Knecht won the Julius Irving Award, which is given to the top small forward in the nation. He averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists and helped lead the Volunteers to the Elite Eight. LeDee took home the Karl Malone Award, which is given to the best power forward. He averaged 21.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

While Davis, Knecht and LeDee’s seasons are over, Newton and Edey will have a chance to take to the court again this season after receiving the award. The Huskies are set to face Alabama Saturday in the Final Four with a berth in the national championship game on the line. Purdue will face NC State in the other semi-final.