Tre Jones, Vernon Carey Jr. Named to Naismith Award Watch list

Blue Devil players have won award more than anyone else

Duke sophomore point guard Tre Jones and freshman center Vernon Care Jr. were named to the preseason watch list for the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s 2020 Citizen Naismith Trophy Men’s Player of the Year honor.

The 50-player list will be trimmed to a 30-person list in February, followed by the 10 national semifinalists and four finalists on March 5, 2020, and March 17, 2020, respectively. The 2020 Citizen Naismith Trophy will be awarded in the hometown of the Atlanta Tipoff Club during the Final Four at the Naismith Awards Brunch on April 5, 2020.

Duke is one of seven schools who lead the watch list with two players apiece. The Blue Devils have won more Citizen Naismith Trophies (8) than any other school with the addition of last year’s winner, Zion Williamson. Additional schools with two players represented include Davidson, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and Michigan State.

Carey, who is playing the post for the first time ever, is one of three centers on the watch list, joining Memphis’ James Wiseman and Western Kentucky’s Charles Bassey

He’s also one of seven freshmen on the list, joining Wiseman, UNC’s Cole Anthony, Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, Arizona’s Nico Mannion, Washington’s Isaiah Stewart and Kentucky’s Tyrese Maxey.

A total of seven ACC players made the list: Jones, Carey, Anthony, Virginia’s Mamadi Diakite, NC State’s Markell Johnson, Notre Dame’s John Mooney and Louisville’s Jordan Nwora.

The full list is below.

2020 Citizen Naismith Trophy Men’s Preseason Watch List