March 9, 2022
THE AWARD FINALISTS
BOSTON, MA -- The finalists for the 2022-23 Lou Henson National Player of the Year award were announced on Thursday.
The award is presented annually to the top mid-major player in division I college basketball and 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, Colonial, Horizon, 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 award will be announced in March, in Houston site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.
2022-23 LOU HENSON AWARD FINALISTS
|
Max Abmas |
6-0 |
Oral Roberts |
|
Dalton Bolon |
6-4 |
Charleston |
|
Mike Bothwell |
6-3 |
Furman |
|
Jordan Brown |
6-11 |
Louisiana |
|
Joe Bryant Jr. |
6-1 |
Norfolk State |
|
Sincere Carry |
6-1 |
Kent State |
|
Walter Clayton Jr. |
6-2 |
Iona |
|
Austin Crowley |
6-5 |
Southern Miss |
|
Antoine Davis |
6-1 |
Detroit |
|
RayJ Dennis |
6-2 |
Toledo |
|
Tucker DeVries |
6-7 |
Drake |
|
Jordan Dingle |
6-3 |
Penn |
|
Aaron Estrada |
6-4 |
Hofstra |
|
Logan Johnson |
6-2 |
Saint Mary’s |
|
Tevian Jones |
6-7 |
Southern Utah |
|
Taevion Kinsey |
6-5 |
Marshall |
|
Ryan Larson |
6-1 |
Charleston |
|
Darius McGhee |
5-9 |
Liberty |
|
Ajay Mitchell |
6-4 |
UCSB |
|
Drew Pember |
6-11 |
UNC Asheville |
|
Dylan Penn |
6-3 |
Vermont |
|
Brandin Podziemski |
6-5 |
Santa Clara |
|
Tucker Richardson |
6-5 |
Colgate |
|
Cam Shelton |
6-2 |
Loyola Marymount |
|
DeMarcus Sharp |
6-3 |
Northwestern State |
|
Ben Sheppard |
6-6 |
Belmont |
|
JT Shumate |
6-7 |
Toledo |
|
Jalen Slawson |
6-7 |
Furman |
|
Marques Warrick |
6-2 |
Northern Kentucky |
|
Chris Youngblood |
6-4 |
Kennesaw State |
2022: Malachi Smith, Chattanooga
2021: Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
2020: Nathan Knight, William & Mary
2019: Fletcher Magee, Wofford
2018: Clayton Custer, Loyola Chicago
2017; Justin Robinson, Monmouth
2016: Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin
2015: Ty Greene, USC Upstate
2014: Langston Hall, Mercer
2013: Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary's
2012: Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk State
2011: Matt Howard, Butler
2010: Keith Benson, Oakland
