Wilkerson on Henson Award watch list

BOSTON — Sam Houston senior Lamar Wilkerson has been named to the 2024-25 Lou Henson Award "Early Season" watch list, CollegeInsider.com announced on Tuesday.

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.

Wilkerson leads the Bearkats in scoring at 18.3 points per game and is coming off a career day in the 85-72 victory over Lamar on Sunday. He scored a career-high 28 points on 6 of 10 shooting from 3-point range after going 5 for 12 from long range to finish with 19 points in a loss to No. 12 Baylor in Waco.

The Ashdown, Arkansas native who was a first-team All-Conference USA selection last season is hitting 50 percent of this shots from behind the arc this season

The award is named after Lou Henson who 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.

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, site of the men's NCAA Championship.

Wilkerson on Henson Award watch list

Players Mentioned

Lamar Wilkerson

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