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University of Houston Athletics
Shead, Cryer Named to Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
11/5/2023 6:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Cougars are one of 11 schools with multiple student-athletes on list
HOUSTON – University of Houston senior guards Jamal Shead and LJ Cryer were two of 50 student-athletes nationally to earn a place on the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Tuesday.
Houston was one of only 11 schools with multiple student-athletes on the list, joining Creighton, North Carolina, Arizona, USC, FAU, Kansas, Duke, Michigan State, Marquette and Miami (Fla.).
ABOUT JAMAL SHEAD
Shead has been a leader with the Cougars for three seasons and enters the 2023-24 campaign with 460 career assists to rank seventh in school history.
He recently was named to the Preseason Watch List for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and was an Honorable Mention for the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
As a junior a year ago, he was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 10.5 points per game with a team-high 200 assists. The Manor, Texas, native joined Houston great Reid Gettys as the only players in school history with multiple seasons with 200+ assists.
Shead recorded a pair of double-doubles in 2022-23 and enjoyed 19 games with 5+ assists and 24 games with two or fewer turnovers.
He was one of only 10 student-athletes to rank among the nation's Top-30 leaders in both assists per game and assist-turnover ratio.
In 2021-22, Shead led Houston to the NCAA Elite and was named to the NCAA Tournament All-Regional Team, becoming only the third sophomore in school history to earn that honor, joining Hakeem Olajuwon (1984) and Elvin Hayes (1968).
ABOUT LJ CRYER
Cryer is in his first season at Houston in 2023-24 after transferring from Baylor during the summer. He recently was named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List and earned a place on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
A three-year letterman during an award-winning career, Cryer earned 2022-23 All-Big 12 and USBWA All-District VII Team recognition after averaging 15.0 points per game while hitting 45.3 percent (163-of-360) from the field, including 41.5 percent (80-of-193) from behind the arc.
The Katy, Texas, native set Baylor's NCAA Tournament scoring record with 30 points against rv/#22 Creighton and posted the program's single-season free throw percentage record at 89.4 percent (59-of-66).
As a freshman, Cryer competed in 20 games while helping lead the Bears to the Big 12 title and the NCAA national championship.
Cryer was an award-winning star at Morton Ranch High School, where he finished his career with 3,488 points, the fifth-highest total in Texas public school history. He was named to the TABC Class 6A All-State Team and was tabbed 2020 All-Greater Houston Basketball Player of the Year by the Houston Chronicle.
2023-24 JERSEY MIKE'S NAISMITH TROPHY PLAYER of the YEAR PRESEASON WATCH LIST
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win as we begin Big 12 competition. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
Houston was one of only 11 schools with multiple student-athletes on the list, joining Creighton, North Carolina, Arizona, USC, FAU, Kansas, Duke, Michigan State, Marquette and Miami (Fla.).
ABOUT JAMAL SHEADShead has been a leader with the Cougars for three seasons and enters the 2023-24 campaign with 460 career assists to rank seventh in school history.
He recently was named to the Preseason Watch List for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and was an Honorable Mention for the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
As a junior a year ago, he was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 10.5 points per game with a team-high 200 assists. The Manor, Texas, native joined Houston great Reid Gettys as the only players in school history with multiple seasons with 200+ assists.
Shead recorded a pair of double-doubles in 2022-23 and enjoyed 19 games with 5+ assists and 24 games with two or fewer turnovers.
He was one of only 10 student-athletes to rank among the nation's Top-30 leaders in both assists per game and assist-turnover ratio.
In 2021-22, Shead led Houston to the NCAA Elite and was named to the NCAA Tournament All-Regional Team, becoming only the third sophomore in school history to earn that honor, joining Hakeem Olajuwon (1984) and Elvin Hayes (1968).
ABOUT LJ CRYERCryer is in his first season at Houston in 2023-24 after transferring from Baylor during the summer. He recently was named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List and earned a place on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
A three-year letterman during an award-winning career, Cryer earned 2022-23 All-Big 12 and USBWA All-District VII Team recognition after averaging 15.0 points per game while hitting 45.3 percent (163-of-360) from the field, including 41.5 percent (80-of-193) from behind the arc.
The Katy, Texas, native set Baylor's NCAA Tournament scoring record with 30 points against rv/#22 Creighton and posted the program's single-season free throw percentage record at 89.4 percent (59-of-66).
As a freshman, Cryer competed in 20 games while helping lead the Bears to the Big 12 title and the NCAA national championship.
Cryer was an award-winning star at Morton Ranch High School, where he finished his career with 3,488 points, the fifth-highest total in Texas public school history. He was named to the TABC Class 6A All-State Team and was tabbed 2020 All-Greater Houston Basketball Player of the Year by the Houston Chronicle.
2023-24 JERSEY MIKE'S NAISMITH TROPHY PLAYER of the YEAR PRESEASON WATCH LIST
| Name | School |
| Jamal Shead | Houston |
| L.J. Cryer | Houston |
| Max Abmas | Texas |
| Trey Alexander | Creighton |
| Armando Bacot | North Carolina |
| Oumar Ballo | Arizona |
| Reece Beekman | Virginia |
| Adem Bona | UCLA |
| Trevon Brazile | Arkansas |
| Johni Broome | Auburn |
| Boo Buie | Northwestern |
| Donovan Clingan | UConn |
| Isaiaha Collier | USC |
| Tristan da Silva | Colorado |
| Johnell Davis | FAU |
| RJ Davis | North Carolina |
| Tucker DeVries | Drake |
| Hunter Dickinson | Kansas |
| Zach Edey | Purdue |
| Justin Edwards | Kentucky |
| Boogie Ellis | USC |
| Kyle Filipowski | Duke |
| PJ Hall | Clemson |
| Dajuan Harris Jr. | Kansas |
| A.J. Hoggard | Michigan State |
| DaRon Holmes II | Dayton |
| Bryce Hopkins | Providence |
| Kam Jones | Marquette |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton |
| Tyler Kolek | Marquette |
| Caleb Love | Arizona |
| Aidan Mahaney | Saint Mary's (Calif.) |
| Alijah Martin | FAU |
| Kevin McCullar Jr. | Kansas |
| Judah Mintz | Syracuse |
| Justin Moore | Villanova |
| Grant Nelson | Alabama |
| Ryan Nembhard | Gonzaga |
| Norchad Omier | Miami (Fla.) |
| Clifford Omoruyi | Rutgers |
| Nijel Pack | Miami (Fla,.) |
| Tylor Pery | Kansas State |
| Tyrese Proctor | Duke |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | Illinois |
| Tolu Smith | Mississippi State |
| Isaiah Stevens | Colorado State |
| Wade Taylor IV | Texas A&M |
| Santiago Vescovi | Tennessee |
| Tyson Walker | Michigan State |
| Jahmir Young | Maryland |
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win as we begin Big 12 competition. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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