Sahvir Wheeler Named to Bob Cousy Award Watch List
Kentucky guard Sahvir Wheeler was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s preseason watch list for the 2023 Bob Cousy Award on Monday. Wheeler, who was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award for the nation’s best point guard a year ago. Lost too Ayo Dosunmu.
Abdullah Named ACC Linebacker of the Week
University of Louisville linebacker Yasir Abdullah was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Linebacker of the Week, the league announced Monday. Abdullah was credited with seven tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble as the Cardinals limited the Panthers to 326 yards of total offense. Abdullah sealed the game when he forced a fumble on a sack that resulted in a 59-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Kei’Trel Clark to give the Cards a 24-10 lead. Abdullah recorded his team tying second interception and the third of his career that stopped a Pitt scoring drive. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior is second on the team with 8.0 tackles for loss and third with 3.5 sacks. Abdullah is tied for fourth with 36.5 tackles for loss in his career.
Hailassie Earns C-USA Defensive Player of the Week Honors
WKU defensive back Kahlef Hailassie has been named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Hilltoppers defeat UAB, 20-17, Friday night at Houchens-Smith Stadium. Hailassie is the third Hilltopper to win a player of the week award this season, and the second defensive back after Kaleb Oliver was named Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in WKU’s win at Hawaii. The redshirt junior had one of the best games of his career Friday night against UAB. Hailassie was involved in three of the WKU defense’s four forced turnovers on the night. He recovered one fumble, forced another that was recovered by a teammate, and came up with a critical interception late in the game to preserve the WKU lead so the offense could run out the clock and secure the victory. The California native also added five tackles to his stat line with 0.5 for loss.
Matthews Tabbed C-USA Offensive Player of the Week
Conference USA announced volleyball’s weekly award winners Monday, after WKU took sweeps weekend in a split weekend on the road and back in Diddle Arena against Charlotte and Middle Tennessee. Inching a perfect conference slate and 20 wins, Lauren Matthews was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Week.
Nuccio Nab Second Freshman of the Week Honors
Federica Nuccio, outside hitter from Frossasco, Italy, has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week for the second this season after two double-doubles contributing to the Racers two wins over Bradley and Illinois State this past weekend.
Antonio Reeves, Cason Wallace Named to Jerry West Award Watch List
Kentucky guards Antonio Reeves and Cason Wallace were named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s preseason watch list for the 2023 Jerry West Award on Tuesday. Reeves, a transfer from Illinois State, was a team captain and Missouri Valley Conference Second Team selection a season ago. A freshman from Dallas, Wallace was a consensus five-star prospect who averaged 19.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists per contest as a senior at Richardson High School. Ranked the No. 7 overall player by Rivals, No. 8 by 247Sports and No. 20 by ESPN, Wallace was named the 2022 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year and The Dallas Morning News’ Player of the Year, while being named a McDonald’s All-American and a selection to the Jordan Brand Classic.
Jones Named ACC Defensive Player of the Week
University of Louisville sophomore defender Josh Jones was named the Atlantic Coast Conference co-Defensive Player of the Week, announced by the league on Tuesday. Jones is the second Louisville student-athlete to earn a weekly award this season, joining Aboubacar Camara who was named the Offensive Player of the Week in September.
Van Lith Named Preseason All-American
University of Louisville junior guard Hailey Van Lith earned second team Preseason All-American honors from The Athletic Wednesday morning. This is the third preseason award recognition Van Lith has garnered ahead of the upcoming 2022-23 season. In the recent weeks, Van Lith was named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List and the award recognizes the top shooting guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. She was also named to the Preseason All-ACC for the second-straight season and the Cardinals were tabbed as league favorites heading into the year.
Chris Livingston Named to Julius Erving Award Watch List
Kentucky freshman Chris Livingston was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s preseason watch list for the 2023 Julius Erving Award on Wednesday. Livingston, from Akron, Ohio, was a consensus five-star prospect, averaging 18.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per contest as a senior at Oak Hill Academy after spending his first three years at Buchtel High School. Named a McDonald’s All-American and to the Jordan Brand Classic roster, Livingston was listed as the No. 10 overall player by Rivals, No. 11 by 247Sports and No. 12 by ESPN. Livingston was named the 2022 Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year after earning Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year honors as a junior in 2021. The freshman is one of 20 candidates on the list for best small forward in college basketball. Kentucky is the only school with a total of four players on the three announced watch lists after Sahvir Wheeler was named to the Bob Cousy Award watch list and Antonio Reeves and Cason Wallace were selected to the Jerry West Award watch list earlier this week. Other SEC candidates on the Erving Award watch list are Tennessee’s Josiah-Jordan James, Alabama’s Brandon Miller and Arkansas’ Jordan Walsh.