Springfield, Mass. - Senior Carson Puriefoy (Wenonah, N.J.) of the Stony Brook men's basketball team was named one of 20 finalists for the 2016 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award presented by College of the Holy Cross, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday.

The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes the top point guard in men’s college basketball.

Puriefoy, who earned first team All-America East honors after averaging 14.4 points and 3.4 assists per game, ranked among the conference's top 10 in scoring, assists, assist/turnover ratio (1.2) and minutes played (33.1).

He is one of eight players in Stony Brook's 16 years of Division I competition to reach 1,000 career points and already ranks in the top 10 in the program's Division I history in field goals, free throws, three-point field goals, steals and assists.

By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2016 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee.

“The athletes on this list represent the most dedicated and skillful point guards in college basketball,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame.