Brian Barbour in the running

From Columbia University athletics:

Columbia junior Brian Barbour was selected as one of 65 candidates for the 2012 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award. The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes the top point guards in college basketball.

After an All-Ivy League honorable mention season as a sophomore, Barbour has raised his game in his junior season. Through 11 games in the 2011-12 campaign, Barbour leads Columbia in scoring (14.1 ppg), assists (3.1 apg) and steals (1.2 spg) averaging more than 33 minutes per game. Barbour also shoots 86.7 percent from the free throw line, one of the top marks in the country.

The original list of candidates will be narrowed down to a final twenty by January 1, final ten by February 1, and final five by March 1. A premier Selection Committee will be appointed by the Hall of Fame to review the final five candidates in contention for the nation’s top collegiate point guard award.

These Hall of Fame committees are made up of top college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, Sports Information Directors and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2012 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the Hall of Fame’s Class Announcement on Championship Monday in New Orleans as part of NCAA Final Four weekend.

Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award have included Jameer Nelson (St. Joseph’s), Raymond Felton (North Carolina), Dee Brown (Illinois), Acie Law (Texas A & M), DJ Augustin (Texas), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland) and last year’s recipient Kemba Walker (Connecticut).

The 2012 Bob Cousy Award Candidates: (we've included all the Bay Area/northern California-connected prospects)

Brian Barbour, Columbia

Will Cherry, Montana

Jared Cunningham, Oregon State