April 1, 2022
MALACHI SMITH WINS 2022 AWARD
NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Malachi Smith of Chattanooga is the recipient of the 2022 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award, presented annually to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball.
Smith, a 6-4, 205-pound guard, averaged 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in leading the Mocs to the Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships and an NCAA tournament bid.
One of the nation’s most efficient scorers, Smith shot 53 percent on 2-pointers, 41 percent on 3-pointers and 83 percent on free throws as Chattanooga finished 27-8 overall, 14-4 in the Southern and lost by one point to Illinois in the NCAA first round.
Smith scored in double figures in 32 games and eclipsed the 20-point mark in 19 contests.
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, 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.
2021-22 LOU HENSON ALL-AMERICA TEAM
|
Max Abmas |
G |
Jr. |
Oral Roberts |
|
Fardaws Aimaq |
C |
So. |
Utah Valley |
|
Teddy Allen |
F |
Jr. |
New Mexico State |
|
E.J. Anosike |
F |
Sr. |
Cal State Fullerton |
|
Mike Bothwell |
G |
Sr. |
Furman |
|
Jamaree Bouyea |
G |
Sr. |
San Francisco |
|
Johni Broome |
C |
Fr. |
Morehead State |
|
Tevin Brown |
G |
Jr. |
Murray State |
|
Joe Bryant Jr. |
G |
Sr. |
Norfolk State |
|
Jamal Cain |
F |
Sr. |
Oakland |
|
Sincere Carry |
G |
Jr. |
Kent State |
|
Antoine Davis |
G |
Sr. |
Detroit |
|
Tavian Dunn-Martin |
G |
Sr. |
FGCU |
|
Aaron Estrada |
G |
Jr. |
Hofstra |
|
Savion Flagg |
G |
Sr. |
Sam Houston |
|
Ques Glover |
G |
So. |
Samford |
|
Ty Gordon |
G |
Sr. |
Nicholls |
|
A.J. Green |
G |
Jr. |
Northern Iowa |
|
Tanner Holden |
G |
Jr. |
Wright State |
|
Justin Hill |
G |
So. |
Longwood |
|
Peter Kiss |
G |
Sr. |
Bryant |
|
Koby McEwen |
G |
Sr. |
Weber State |
|
Darius McGhee |
G |
Sr. |
Liberty |
|
Alex Morales |
G |
Sr. |
Wagner |
|
Isaiah Mosley |
G |
Jr. |
Missouri State |
|
Nick Muszynksi |
C |
Sr. |
Belmont |
|
KC Ndefo |
F |
Sr. |
Saint Peter’s |
|
Norchad Omier |
F |
Fr. |
Arkansas State |
|
M.J. Randolph |
G |
Sr. |
Florida A&M |
|
Ryan Rollins |
G |
So. |
Toledo |
|
Baylor Scheierman |
G |
So. |
South Dakota State |
|
Mark Sears |
G |
So. |
Ohio |
|
Ben Shungu |
G |
Sr. |
Vermont |
|
MALACHI SMITH |
G |
So. |
CHATTANOOGA |
|
Amadou Sow |
C |
Sr. |
UCSB |
|
Azar Swain |
G |
Sr. |
Yale |
|
Darrion Trammell |
G |
So. |
Seattle |
|
Jalen Williams |
G |
Jr. |
Santa Clara |
|
K.J. Williams |
F |
Sr. |
Murray State |
|
Douglas Wilson |
F |
Sr. |
South Dakota State |
2024: Trey Townsend, Oakland
2023: Jordan Brown, Louisiana
2022: Malachi Smith, Chattanooga
2021: Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
2020: Nathan Knight, William & Mary
2019: Fletcher Magee, Wofford
2018: Clayton Custer, Loyola Chicago
2017; Justin Robinson, Monmouth
2016: Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin
2015: Ty Greene, USC Upstate
2014: Langston Hall, Mercer
2013: Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary's
2012: Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk State
2011: Matt Howard, Butler
2010: Keith Benson, Oakland
