Gonzaga’s Zach Norvell Jr. one of 20 on Jerry West Award watch list

Gonzaga’s Zach Norvell Jr. is one of 20 players on the watch list for the Jerry West Award.

The award is presented annually to college basketball’s top shooting guard. The list of 20 will be trimmed to 10 in mid-February. Purdue’s Carsen Edwards won the award last season.

Norvell averaged 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals last season. He took over as starting wing when Corey Kispert suffered an ankle injury in the seventh game and was named WCC Newcomer of the Year at the end of the season.

The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Chicago showed a knack for clutch shots, including key 3-pointers that helped the Zags defeat UNC Greensboro and Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament.

Norvell, who was on the Julius Erving Award (top small forward) watch list last season, had 28 points and 12 rebounds against the Buckeyes, one of his five 20-point games. His 77 3-pointers ranked second on the team.

Norvell and Washington’s Jaylen Nowell are the only players from the West on the watch list. Gonzaga entertains Washington on Dec. 5. GU’s potential Maui Invitational opponents include a pair of watch-list candidates – Duke’s RJ Barrett and Auburn’s Bryce Brown.