Arizona’s Caleb Holt makes preseason watchlist for Jerry West Award
Caleb Holt is one of three freshmen listed on the watchlist along with Illinois guard Quentin Coleman and Texas guard Austin Goosby.
TUCSON, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 16: Caleb Holt #3 of the Arizona Wildcats dribbles the ball against Latrell Davis #5 of the San Diego State Aztecs during the first half of the preseason game at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena on October 16, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Arizona Wildcats freshman guard Caleb Holt, widely projected as a top-five pick in next year’s NBA draft, has made the preseason watchlist for the 2027 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Preseason Watch List for the 2027 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award. 🏀 #HoophallU | #WestAward pic.twitter.com/9U6ibZ4NY4
— University of Hoophall (@hoophallu) October 27, 2026
Coming off a Final Four appearance, the Wildcats have a team capable of running it back led by Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year Motiejus Krivas and Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 forward Ivan Kharchenkov alongside Holt.
The preseason KenPom rankings have the Wildcats ranked as the fifth-best team in the country.
Holt was ranked as the third overall player in his high school class behind only Kansas forward Tyran Stokes and Arkansas guard Jordan Smith Jr.
In three preseason exhibition games, Holt averaged 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and three steals per game.
On the shooting guard watchlist, he’s mentioned with some of the top college basketball players in the country, such as UConn’s Braylon Mullins and Duke’s John Blackwell.
The Jerry West Award is one of the five awards given by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in recognition of the best player at each position in the country. The others are the Bob Cousy Award (point guard), the Julius Erving Award (small forward), the Karl Malone Award (power forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (center).
Last season’s award winner was Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, who was drafted fifth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in June.
The inaugural winner of the Jerry West Award was Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell in 2015.
Holt and the Wildcats open the regular season on Monday, Nov. 2 against the UCLA Bruins in Las Vegas.
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