MVC/OVC Stars on Henson Watch List

(Boston, MA) – The Mid-Season Watch List for the 2021-22 Lou Henson National Player of the Year award was announced on Wednesday.

The 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.

Editor: Ohio Valley Conference players Johni Broome of Morehead State, Murray State’s Tevin Brown and Belmont’s Grayson Murphy and Nick Muszynski are part of the mid-season watch list. The only Missouri Valley Conference player is Missouri State’s Gaige Prim.