THE LOU HENSON AWARD

2022 Lou Henson Award

April 1, 2022

MALACHI SMITH WINS 2022 AWARD

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Malachi Smith of Chattanooga is the recipient of the 2022 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award, presented annually to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball.

Smith, a 6-4, 205-pound guard, averaged 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in leading the Mocs to the Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships and an NCAA tournament bid.

One of the nation’s most efficient scorers, Smith shot 53 percent on 2-pointers, 41 percent on 3-pointers and 83 percent on free throws as Chattanooga finished 27-8 overall, 14-4 in the Southern and lost by one point to Illinois in the NCAA first round. 

Smith scored in double figures in 32 games and eclipsed the 20-point mark in 19 contests.

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, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast.

2021-22 LOU HENSON ALL-AMERICA TEAM

Max Abmas

G

Jr.

Oral Roberts

Fardaws Aimaq

C

So.

Utah Valley

Teddy Allen

F

Jr.

New Mexico State

E.J. Anosike

F

Sr.

Cal State Fullerton

Mike Bothwell

G

Sr.

Furman

Jamaree Bouyea

G

Sr.

San Francisco

Johni Broome

C

Fr.

Morehead State

Tevin Brown

G

Jr.

Murray State

Joe Bryant Jr.

G

Sr.

Norfolk State

Jamal Cain

F

Sr.

Oakland

Sincere Carry

G

Jr.

Kent State

Antoine Davis

G

Sr.

Detroit

Tavian Dunn-Martin

G

Sr.

FGCU

Aaron Estrada

G

Jr.

Hofstra

Savion Flagg

G

Sr.

Sam Houston

Ques Glover

G

So.

Samford

Ty Gordon

G

Sr.

Nicholls

A.J. Green

G

Jr.

Northern Iowa

Tanner Holden

G

Jr.

Wright State

Justin Hill

G

So.

Longwood

Peter Kiss

G

Sr.

Bryant

Koby McEwen

G

Sr.

Weber State

Darius McGhee

G

Sr.

Liberty

Alex Morales

G

Sr.

Wagner

Isaiah Mosley

G

Jr.

Missouri State

Nick Muszynksi

C

Sr.

Belmont

KC Ndefo

F

Sr.

Saint Peter’s

Norchad Omier

F

Fr.

Arkansas State

M.J. Randolph

G

Sr.

Florida A&M

Ryan Rollins

G

So.

Toledo

Baylor Scheierman

G

So.

South Dakota State

Mark Sears

G

So.

Ohio

Ben Shungu

G

Sr.

Vermont

MALACHI SMITH

G

So.

CHATTANOOGA

Amadou Sow

C

Sr.

UCSB

Azar Swain

G

Sr.

Yale

Darrion Trammell

G

So.

Seattle

Jalen Williams

G

Jr.

Santa Clara

K.J. Williams

F

Sr.

Murray State

Douglas Wilson

F

Sr.

South Dakota State

 

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.
 
 

Champign Image
Champign Image
Champign Image