April 2, 2026

NAVY’S AUSTIN BENIGNI RECIPIENT OF 2026 LOU HENSON AWARD
The top player in mid-major college basketball

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Navy’s Austin Benigni is the recipient of the 2026 Lou Henson award, which is presented annually to the top player in mid-major in college basketball.

Benigni helped lead Navy Basketball to its best season in over 25 years and one of the best in program history, averaging 18 points, and 4.4 assists per game.

“Austin Benigni was the catalyst for the best season of Navy basketball this century,” said Joe Dwyer, President of College Insider, Inc. and member of the Lou Henson award voting panel. “A tremendous leader, on and off the court, Austin Benigni was the guy you wanted to see with the ball in his hands when the game was on the line. He makes winning plays. It was fun to watch him work his craft at the Naval Academy.”

The senior point guard ranked among the Patriot League and NCAA leaders in multiple statistical categories, including points (612 - 2nd Patriot League, 64th NCAA), assists (149 - 3rd Patriot League, 96th NCAA), free throw percentage (88.0% - 1st Patriot League, 40th NCAA), free throws made (176 - 1st Patriot League, 36th NCAA) and minutes played (36:09 - 1st Patriot League, 30th NCAA). 

Benigni scored in double figures in 32 of Navy's 34 games this season, tallied at least 20 points in 14 games and dished out five or more assists in 16 games.  He joins David Robinson as the only Mids who have scored 500 points in three seasons and is the first Navy player to lead the team in points in assists in a season three times.

Benigni leaves Navy with his named etched throughout the school's career record book.  This includes being ranked third in points (1,923), fourth in assists (483), third in games scoring in double figures (94) and first in free throws made (618), free throw percentage (86.2%) and games played (130).

He also ranks first at Navy with 618 career free throws made, third with 717 free throws attempted.

Benigni, who was named the Patriot League Player of the Year, was also a finalist for the Nolan Richardson award, which is presented annually to the division I player who is the heart and soul of his team, and a leader on and off the court.

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.

  LOU HENSON AWARD FINALISTS

PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Brian Moore, Jr., Norfolk State (2025); Trey Townsend, Oakland (2024); Jordan Brown (2023); Malachi Smith, Chattanooga (2022); Max Abmas, Oral Roberts (2021); Nathan Knight, William & Mary (2020); Fletcher Magee, Wofford (2019); Clayton Custer, Loyola Chicago (2018); Justin Robinson, Monmouth (2017); Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin (2016); Ty Greene, USC Upstate (2015); Langston Hall, Mercer (2014); Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary's (2013); Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk State (2012); Matt Howard, Butler (2011), Keith Benson, Oakland (2010).

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Established in 1996, CollegeInsider.com has been at the forefront of promoting college basketball online. In the July 27, 1998, issue of ESPN the Magazine, College Insider was ranked No. 24 on the magazine’s list of 99 Things to do Before you Die. College Insider created the Mid-Major Top 25®, the measuring stick for men’s and women’s programs outside of the proverbial power leagues, and has 18 national awards presented annually, including the Lute Olson Award, Lou Henson Award, and the John McLendon Award. The CollegeInsider.com All-Access series has been nominated for 5 Emmy Awards and won 2013 Emmy, for its’ feature on New York City Basketball (Iona, LIU-Brooklyn and Manhattan). CI also created This Game No Secret, which debuted during the 2016 CIT and now has become an annual event, which has included programs like Duke, Houston, Miami, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Texas and Virginia.
 

NOTE: Portions of the press release came from Naval Academy releases.