KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With the team’s opening game just days away, Kentucky men’s basketball freshman guard Brandon Boston Jr. has added another preseason honor to his growing résumé. Boston was among 20 candidates selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ preseason watch list for player of the year on Monday.
Boston is joined by Florida’s Keyontae Johnson and LSU’s Trendon Watford as players representing the Southeastern Conference.
The 2021 NABC Division I Player of the Year award will be announced during the 2021 AT&T NABC Guardians of the Game Awards show, which will take place at the Final Four.
Boston, a consensus five-star prospect, is Kentucky’s top-ranked player in the 2020 class. Boston averaged 19.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game at Sierra Canyon High School his senior season. He helped lead the team to a 30-4 mark and a No. 2 national ranking. Boston was named the California Male Athlete of the Year and the California Basketball Player of the Year by USA Today. He was also tabbed a First Team Naismith All-American, Second Team Sports Illustrated All-American, SLAM Magazine All-American, California Mr. Basketball and the Gold Coast League MVP.
Boston was selected to the McDonald’s All American Game, the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic and the Jordan Brand Classic. He averaged 22.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit prior to his senior season. Boston earned 2018-19 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Junior All-American Team honorable mention distinction after averaging 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds 1.9 steals while leading his previous high school in Norcross, Georgia to the state semifinals as a junior.
Other notable preseason recognitions for Boston include:
- Naismith Trophy preseason watch list
- Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Julius Erving Award preseason watch list
- Preseason All-SEC First Team (media and coaches)
- Preseason All-America Third Team (CBS Sports, Stadium)
Kentucky will begin its season Wednesday at 6 p.m.vs. Morehead State in the first of three games in the Bluegrass Showcase at Rupp Arena. The game will air live on SEC Network.
UK’s 2020-21 revised schedule features 27 games before postseason play, nine against some of the best nonconference opponents in the country and 18 in the always difficult SEC.
UK Athletics also recently announced a reduced capacity/distanced seating plan to host fans at Rupp Arena in the healthiest manner possible for the 2020-21 season based on the recommendations from state health officials. Anticipated attendance for the season will be up to 15% of normal arena capacity. All plans are subject to change based on evolving information as well as local, state and national public health developments. Information available tickets and game-day changes can be found here.
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyMBB on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and on the web at UKathletics.com.