The University of Akron Athletics
Freeman Selected to Lou Henson Award Watch List
November 23 | Men's Basketball
BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) has been named to the 2022-23 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Watch List, CollegInsider.com announced on Wednesday (Nov. 23). Freeman is one of 50 players on the watch list and one of four from the Mid-American Conference to be considered for the 2022-23 mid-major national player of the year award. Freeman is joined by Emoni Bates (Eastern Michigan),
Freeman leads the offensive efforts for Akron, averaging a double-double with 14 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He is shooting 59.6 percent from the floor (28 of 47) and collected 30 defensive and 21 offensive rebounds for 51 total boards. In addition, Freeman dished out 2.6 assist per game (13 ast.) and recorded a team-high five blocks with three steals.
Akron is currently 3-2 overall, defeating South Dakota State, Morgan State, and Western Kentucky. Both of the Zips losses have come from Southeastern Conference opponents Mississippi State and LSU.
ABOUT THE AWARD
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, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast.
2022-23 LOU HENSON AWARD WATCH LIST
Freeman leads the offensive efforts for Akron, averaging a double-double with 14 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He is shooting 59.6 percent from the floor (28 of 47) and collected 30 defensive and 21 offensive rebounds for 51 total boards. In addition, Freeman dished out 2.6 assist per game (13 ast.) and recorded a team-high five blocks with three steals.
Akron is currently 3-2 overall, defeating South Dakota State, Morgan State, and Western Kentucky. Both of the Zips losses have come from Southeastern Conference opponents Mississippi State and LSU.
ABOUT THE AWARD
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, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast.
2022-23 LOU HENSON AWARD WATCH LIST
| Max Abmas | 6-0 | Sr. | Oral Roberts |
| Taran Armstrong | 6-6 | So. | California Baptist |
| Emoni Bates | 6-10 | So. | Eastern Michigan |
| Mike Bothwell | 6-3 | Sr. | Furman |
| Jordan Brown | 6-11 | Jr. | Louisiana |
| Joe Bryant Jr. | 6-1 | Sr. | Norfolk State |
| Sincere Carry | 6-1 | Sr. | Kent State |
| Antoine Davis | 6-1 | Sr. | Detroit Mercy |
| RayJ Dennis | 6-2 | Jr. | Toledo |
| Tucker DeVries | 6-7 | So. | Drake |
| Jordan Dingle | 6-3 | Jr. | Penn |
| Kenny Dye | 6-0 | Sr. | Queens |
| Aaron Estrada | 6-3 | Sr. | Hofstra |
| Tosan Evbuomwan | 6-8 | Sr. | Princeton |
| Enrique Freeman | 6-7 | Jr. | Akron |
| Jordan Gainey | 6-4 | So. | USC Upstate |
| Ques Glover | 6-0 | Jr. | Samford |
| Jared Godfrey | 6-5 | Sr. | Purdue-Fort Wayne |
| Qua Grant | 6-1 | Sr. | Sam Houston |
| Mason Harrell | 5-9 | Sr. | Texas State |
| Freddy Hicks | 6-6 | So. | Tarleton |
| Cam Holden | 6-5 | Sr. | Towson |
| Jaden House | 6-4 | Jr. | High Point |
| Logan Johnson | 6-2 | Sr. | Saint Mary's |
| Dillon Jones | 6-6 | So. | Weber State |
| Nelly Junior Joseph | 6-9 | Jr. | Iona |
| Taevion Kinsey | 6-5 | Sr. | Marshall |
| Zeke Mayo | 6-3 | So. | South Dakota State |
| Courvoisier McCauley | 6-5 | Sr. | Indiana State |
| Darius McGhee | 5-9 | Sr. | Liberty |
| Ajay Mitchell | 6-5 | So. | UC Santa Barbara |
| Jordan Minor | 6-8 | Sr. | Merrimack |
| Isaac Mushila | 6-5 | Sr. | Texas A&M Corpus Christi |
| Drew Pember | 6-10 | Sr. | UNC Asheville |
| A.J. Plitzuweit | 6-2 | So. | South Dakota |
Players Mentioned
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