THE LOU HENSON AWARD

March 12, 2026

FINALISTS FOR 2025-26 LOU HENSON AWARD
The top players in mid-major college basketball

BOSTON, MA -- CollegeInsider.com has announced the finalists for the 2025-26 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 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis, IN, site of the men’s Division I Basketball Championship.

LOU HENSON AWARD FINALISTS

Austin Benigni

5-11

Sr.

Navy

Zach Cleveland

6-7

Sr.

Liberty

Dominique Daniels, Jr.

5-10

Sr.

California Baptist

Cruz Davis

6-3

Jr.

Hofstra

Josiah Davis

6-3

Sr.

CSUN

Brett Decker

6-3

So.

Liberty

Quinn Denker

6-3

Sr.

Northern Colorado

Gavin Doty

6-5

So.

Siena

Logan Duncomb

6-10

Sr.

Winthrop

Kyle Evans

6-10

Sr.

UC Irvine

Delrecco Gillespie

6-8

Sr.

Kent State

Bryce Harris

6-4

Sr.

Howard

Jackson Holcombe

6-7

So.

Utah Valley

Camren Hunter

6-3

Sr.

Central Arkansas

Jaquan Johnson

5-11

So.

Bradley

Tavari Johnson

6-0

Sr.

Akron

Aidan Kehoe

6-11

Sr.

Navy

Kevair Kennedy

6-2

Fr.

Merrimack

Tyler Lundblade

6-5

Sr.

Belmont

Terri Miller

6-8

Sr.

Portland State

Nolan Minessale

6-5

So.

St. Thomas MN

Paulius Murauskas

6-8

Jr.

Saint Mary’s

Darin Smith, Jr.

6-7

So.

Central Connecticut State

Peter Suder

6-5

Sr.

Miami OH

Cedric Taylor III

6-7

Jr.

Howard

Keon Thompson

6-1

Sr.

Stephen F. Austin

Nick Townsend

6-7

Sr.

Yale

Patrick Wesler

7-1

Jr.

UNCW

Nasir Whitlock

6-2

Jr.

Lehigh

Alex Wilkins

6-5

Fr.

Furman


PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Brian Moore, Jr., Norfolk State (20250; 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).

ABOUT COLLEGEINSIDER.COM
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.

 

 

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 Lou Henson award voting panel is made up of current division I coaches, athletic administrators, and senior College Insider staff members. The recipient of the 2025-26 award will be announced in April, Indianapolis, IN site of the men's Division I 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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