THE LOU HENSON AWARD

March 20, 2024

2024 LOU HENSON NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALSISTS
Presented annually to the top player in mid-major college basketball.

BOSTON, MA -- The finalists for the 2023-24 Lou Henson National Player of the Year award have been announced. The award is presented annually to the top player in mid-major college basketball.

The Lou Henson award honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons.

Coach Henson is the winningest coach in Illinois basketball history with 423 victories. During his 21 seasons (1975-1996), Henson led the Fighting Illini to 16 postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA tournaments and a Final Four appearance in 1989.

Henson, who is also the all-time winningest coach in New Mexico State history with 289 victories, is one of only 11 coaches to take two different schools to the NCAA Final Four. His teams have made 19 NCAA appearances and four NIT appearances.

Coach Henson passed away on July 25, 2020.

The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.

The 2024 award will be announced in Phoenix, AZ, site of the men’s Division I Basketball Championship.

2024 LOU HENSON NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS

Achor Achor

6-9

Samford

Robbie Avila

6-10

Indiana State

Jalen Blackmon

6-3

Stetson

Isaiah Cozart

6-7

Eastern Kentucky

Isaiah Crawford

6-6

Louisiana Tech

Tucker DeVries

6-7

Drake

Terrence Edwards, Jr.

6-6

James Madison

Enrique Freeman

6-7

Akron

Kezza Giffa

6-2

High Point

Tyon Grant-Foster

6-7

Grand Canyon

Donovan Gregory

6-3

Appalachian State

Xavier Johnson

6-1

Southern Illinois

Dillon Jones

6-6

Weber State

Xaivian Lee

6-3

Princeton

Malik Mack

6-1

Harvard

Aidan Mahaney

6-3

Saint Mary’s

Zeke Mayo

6-4

South Dakota State

Riley Minix

6-7

Morehead State

Jonathan Mogbo

6-9

San Francisco

Drew Pember

6-11

UNC Asheville

Elijah Pepper

6-4

UC Davis

Caden Pierce

6-7

Princeton

Bryce Pope

6-3

UC San Diego

Noah Reynolds

6-3

Green Bay

Jordan Sears

5-11

UT Martin

Braeden Smith

6-0

Colgate

Reyne Smith

6-2

Charleston

Isaiah Swope

5-10

Indiana State

Jamarii Thomas

6-0

Norfolk State

Tyler Thomas

6-3

Hofstra

Trey Townsend

6-6

Oakland

Shahada Wells

6-0

McNeese

Danny Wolf

7-0

Yale

Lamar Wilkerson

6-4

Sam Houston

Vonterius Woolbright

6-6

Western Carolina

 

The Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award, which is presented annually to the top mid-major player in division I college basketball, honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons.
 
Henson is the winningest coach in Illinois basketball history with 423 victories. During his 21 seasons (1975-1996), Henson led the Fighting Illini to 16 postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA tournaments and a Final Four appearance in 1989.
 
Henson, who is also the all-time winningest coach in New Mexico State history with 289 victories, is one of only 11 coaches to take two different schools to the NCAA Final Four. His teams have made 19 NCAA appearances and four NIT appearances.
 
Players on teams from the following conferences are eligible for the award: America East, ASUN, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Coastal Athletic, CUSA, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, MEAC, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, SWAC, Summit, Sun Belt, WAC, West Coast.
 
The recipient of the 2023-24 award will be announced in April, in Phoenix, AZ site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.

The Lou Henson award is presented annually to the top division I mid-major player as voted on by the award committee.

Eligible players must in the following conferences or leagues: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast and Western Athletic.

The 10-member voting committee consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
 
The award is presented annually at the site of the men's Division I NCAA basketball championship. 
 
NOTE: The basis for mid-major designation is based on the criteria established by the Mid-Major Top 25 ® which was created by CollegeInsider.com and is a registered trademark.
 
 

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