The Jerry West Award

Jerry West was on the fast track to stardom from the day he touched a basketball. Throughout the games history, it would be hard to find a better pure shooter. At West Virginia University, West averaged 24.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in his three varsity seasons. In 1959, he led the Mountaineers to the NCAA Finals and captured the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award. In a superlative senior season, West was a consensus All-American and led West Virginia to its third consecutive conference championship.

In Los Angeles, West played virtually his entire career with Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor, and five years with Wilt Chamberlain. When the game was on the line, West's Los Angeles Lakers teammates always found a way to get the ball to "Mr. Clutch." His cool, calm, and collected personality and his leadership on the court was a coach's dream as he won an NBA championship in 1972 and was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1969 despite his team not winning the championship. When he retired, West's name was on nearly every page of the record books. He scored 25,192 points (third), averaged 27.0 ppg (fourth), made 7,160 free throws (second), and dished out 6,238 assists (fifth). West was equally adept on the defensive end, being named to the NBA All-Defensive First-Team four times.

Past Winners
2024 Winner



Player Name School
Photo of RJ Davis RJ Davis UNC

West's Career Highlights

College
  • West Virginia University (1957-60)
College Playing Highlights
  • Consensus All-American First Team, 1959-60
  • NABC All-American First Team, 1959-60
  • AP All-American First Team, 1959-60
  • USBWA All-American First Team, 1959-60
  • Sporting News All-American First Team, 1960
  • NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, 1959
Pro
  • Los Angeles Lakers (1960-74)
Pro Playing Highlights
  • NBA Champion, 1972
  • NBA Finals MVP, 1969
  • All-NBA First Team, 1962-67, 1970-73
  • NBA All-Defensive Team, 1970-73
  • 14-time NBA All-Star, 1961-74
  • NBA All-Star MVP, 1972
  • Olympic gold medalist, 1960
  • One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, 1996

Past Winners

Year Player Name School
2024 RJ Davis UNC
2023 Marcus Sasser Houston
2022 Johnny Davis Wisconsin
2021 Chris Duarte University of Oregon
2020 Myles Powell Seton Hall University
2019 RJ Barrett Duke University
2018 Carsen Edwards Purdue University
2017 Malik Monk University of Kentucky
2016 Buddy Hield University of Oklahoma
2015 D'Angelo Russell Ohio State University