SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Dayton's Charles Cooke was one of 20 players named to the 2017 Jerry West Award Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced. The Jerry West Award is awarded annually to the nation's best shooting guard.

Cooke, a 2015-16 All-Atlantic 10 First-Team and All-Defensive Team selection, led the Flyers in scoring (15.6 ppg) and 3-point shooting (.396) last season. He was also honored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches as an All-District 4 First Team selection.

Earlier today, Cooke was named First Team preseason All-Atlantic 10 and All-Defensive Team at the conference's media day.

This is the first time a Dayton player has been named to the Jerry West Award Preseason Watch List.

Named after Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player Jerry West, the annual honor is in its third year. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. West and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2017 Jerry West Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show live from Club Nokia in Los Angeles, Calif. Broadcast information will be released at a later date.