– Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins, and Madison Booker Repeat as Award Winners –
SAN ANTONIO — Today, on ESPN’s College GameDay coverage of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Four in San Antonio, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame revealed this year’s positional award winners. The awards recognize the preeminent college basketball player at each position, also known as the Naismith Starting Five. The winners were determined by a combination of input from committees composed of top basketball personnel and Starting Five Fan Voting.
The Hall of Fame selection committees, which included media members, coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers, determined the preseason watch list of 20 candidates in October. The list was narrowed to 10 candidates in February and five candidates in March before determining the winner. All season long, players were able to play their way into award consideration.
"The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate the best in the game at every level, both men and women," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. "The student-athletes receiving our Starting Five Awards exemplify the talent and character of the Hall of Famers these awards are named in honor of. We recognize this outstanding group as the next generation of basketball stars, and are confident they will continue to excel in all they do. Today, we celebrate their achievements as we officially name them the Men’s and Women’s 2025 Naismith Starting Five.”
2025 Men’s Naismith Starting Five:
Braden Smith (Purdue) – Bob Cousy (Point Guard) Award
Chaz Lanier (Tennessee) – Jerry West (Shooting Guard) Award
Cooper Flagg (Duke) – Julius Erving (Small Forward) Award
Johni Broome (Auburn) – Karl Malone (Power Forward) Award
Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton) – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Center) Award
2025 Women’s Naismith Starting Five:
Paige Bueckers (UConn) – Nancy Lieberman(Point Guard) Award (two-time winner: 2021)
JuJu Watkins (USC) – Anne Meyers Drysdale (Shooting Guard) Award (two-time winner: 2024)
Madison Booker (Texas) – Cheryl Miller (Small Forward) Award (two-time winner: 2024)
Aneesah Morrow (LSU) – Katrina McClain (Power Forward) Award
Lauren Betts (UCLA) – Lisa Leslie (Center) Award
Quotes from Men’s Naismith Starting Five Award Winners and Hall of Famers
“I am honored to be the recipient of the Bob Cousy Award and would like to thank the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Mr. Cousy for this award. I would also like to shout out my teammates, coaches, and support staff for their trust and confidence in me this season. To be included among the elite players that have won this award is very humbling, and I am grateful to be selected to join that prestigious group.” – Braden Smith, Bob Cousy Award Winner (#CousyAward)
“I want to start by thanking the West family and the selection committee for naming me the recipient of this incredible distinction. It is a true privilege to win the Jerry West Award, and I am deeply honored. I would not be in this position without God and the support of my family, my coaches, my teammates, and the fans. Representing the University of Tennessee this year has been special, and this accolade is not just about me, but about all of us who contributed to such an awesome season.” – Chaz Lanier, Jerry West Award Winner (#WestAward)
“I’m incredibly honored to receive this recognition. Julius Erving is one of the greatest to ever play the game, so to receive this is unbelievably humbling. I’m grateful to my coaches, teammates, family, and everyone who has supported me along the way. My ultimate goal is to help my team win a national championship, and this acknowledgment just motivates me to keep working and improving every day.” – Cooper Flagg, Julius Erving Award Winner (#ErvingAward)
“I am humbled and honored to be selected as the 2025 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award winner. There are so many people to thank, but most importantly, the man above, my family, coaches, and teammates. Their support, encouragement, and development helped me become the person and player I am today. I would like to thank the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Mr. Malone, and the selection committee for this honor.” – Johni Broome, Karl Malone Award Winner (#MaloneAward)
“I am humbled and honored to receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. Kareem is one of the all-time legends, not only in the game of basketball, but as a leader off the court as well. I thank my teammates and coaches for putting me in a position for success and to those with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for this prestigious recognition.” – Ryan Kalkbrenner, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Winner (#KareemAward)
Quotes from Women’s Naismith Starting Five Award Winners and Hall of Famers
“Nancy Lieberman is a legend and a trailblazer in our sport, and it’s an honor to receive this award. I wouldn’t be in this position without the hard work and support of my teammates. They deserve a lot of credit, and I share this honor with them because without my team, I wouldn’t be in this spot. It’s humbling to bookmark my college career with the Nancy Lieberman Award.” – Paige Bueckers, Nancy Lieberman Award Winner (#LiebermanAward)
"It is a true honor to be selected for this award, which is a special one because it celebrates Ann Meyers Drysdale, a legend in our game, and it means a lot to me to receive this prestigious award. Thank you, and Fight On!” – JuJu Watkins, Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Winner (#MeyersAward)
"First and foremost I want to thank God for the opportunity and skills he has blessed me with. Also, I want to thank the committee for selecting me for this award. It is an honor to earn an award with the name Cheryl Miller on it because I know how much she has meant to the game. I want to thank my teammates and coaches as I wouldn’t have received this award without their support and encouragement." – Madison Booker, Cheryl Miller Award Winner (#MillerAward)
“It is an immense honor to receive the Katrina McClain Award, a testament to the perseverance, passion, and dedication that basketball has instilled in me. To stand on the shoulders of giants and be recognized for this award is a humbling reminder that dreams, no matter how ambitious, are always within reach.” – Aneesah Morrow, Katrina McClain Award Winner (#McClainAward)
“The fact that I’m even up for an award like this is really meaningful to me. Obviously there’s a lot of work that I’ve put into this, and it has a lot to do with the program that I’m at, but I don’t take an award like this for granted and it’s really appreciated.” – Lauren Betts, Lisa Leslie Award Winner (#LeslieAward)
For more information, visit HoophallAwards.com or follow @hoophallU on Instagram and X.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors—both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com and follow @hoophallU.