Best Local College Basketball Player

John Cox

Guard, University of San Francisco

John Cox comes from a family steeped in basketball talent: He's the cousin of Kobe Bryant, the nephew of former NBA player Joe Bryant, and the son of '70s USF star Chubby Cox. The 6-foot-5 senior finally came into his own this season, his sixth year of eligibility after a knee injury cost him all but a game of his 2003-04 campaign. Cox earned first-team all-conference honors, leading the league in scoring with a career-high 20.4 average, and flourished in all phases of the game, helping the Dons to a 15-12 regular season record and their first post-season victory (in the NIT tournament) in 26 years. He's a long shot to be drafted in the NBA, but he's made a name for himself that might earn him a lengthy career playing overseas.