THE LOU HENSON AWARD

March 13, 2025

FINALISTS FOR 2024-25 LOU HENSON AWARD
The top players in mid-major college basketball

BOSTON, MA -- CollegeInsider.com has announced the finalists for the 2024-25 Lou Henson award, which is presented annually to the top player in mid-major in 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 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, TX, site of the men’s Division I Basketball Championship.

LOU HENSON AWARD FINALISTS

Daniel Batcho

6-11

Sr.

Louisiana Tech

Ante Brzovic

6-10

Sr.

Charleston

Adam “Budd” Clark

5-10

So.

Merrimack

Zach Cleveland

6-7

Jr.

Liberty

Oscar Cluff

6-11

Sr.

South Dakota State

Tayton Conerway

6-3

Sr.

Troy

Mark Freeman

5-11

Sr.

James Madison

Javohn Garcia

6-3

Sr.

McNeese

Kimani Hamilton

6-8

Jr.

High Point

Barrington Hargress

6-0

So.

UC Riverside

Jalen Jackson

6-2

Jr.

Purdue Fort Wayne

Nate Johnson

6-3

Jr.

Akron

Jordan Jones

6-0

Sr.

Central Connecticut State

Jacari Lane

6-0

Jr.

North Alabama

Bent Leuchten

7-1

Sr.

UC Irvine

Augustas Marciulionis

6-4

Sr.

Saint Mary's

Jordan Marsh

5-10

So.

UNC Asheville

Bez Mbeng

6-4

Sr.

Yale

Brian Moore, Jr.

6-2

Sr.

Norfolk State

Paulius Murauskas

6-8

So.

Saint Mary's

Dominick Nelson

6-5

Jr.

Utah Valley

Jacob Ognacevic

6-8

Sr.

Lipscomb

Quimari Peterson

6-1

Sr.

ETSU

Jaron Pierre Jr.

6-6

Sr.

Jacksonville State

John Poulakidas

6-6

Sr.

Yale

Matt Rogers

6-9

Sr.

American

PJay Smith Jr.

6-0

Sr.

Furman

Bennett Stirtz

6-4

Jr.

Drake

Marquel Sutton

6-9

Sr.

Omaha

Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones

6-6

Sr.

UC San Diego

Ray'Sean Taylor

6-1

Sr.

SIU Edwardsville

Tyler Tejada

6-9

So.

Towson

Malik Thomas

6-5

Sr.

San Francisco

Earl Timberlake

6-6

Sr.

Bryant

Nick Townsend

6-7

Jr.

Yale

 

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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