NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State guard
Jamarii Thomas has been named a finalist for the 2024 Lou Henson National Player of the Year award, College Insider announced on Wednesday.
Presented annually to the top player in mid-major college basketball, the accolade is named after the late Lou Henson, the winningest coach in Illinois basketball history with 423 victories.
During his 21 seasons (1975-1976), Henson led the Fighting Illini to 16 postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA tournaments and a final four appearance in 1989.
Thomas has taken the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) by storm after transferring to Norfolk State this offseason from UNC Wilmington. Averaging 17.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, Thomas earned MEAC Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, All-MEAC First Team, and All-Defensive Team honors at the conference's annual postseason awards banquet.
The recipient of the annual Lou Henson National Player of the Year award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
The 2024 award will be announced in Phoenix, Ariz., site of the men's Division I basketball championship.
2024 LOU HENSON NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS
| Achor Achor |
6-9 |
Samford |
| Robbie Avila |
6-10 |
Indiana State |
| Jalen Blackmon |
6-3 |
Stetson |
| Isaiah Cozart |
6-7 |
Eastern Kentucky |
| Isaiah Crawford |
6-6 |
Louisiana Tech |
| Tucker DeVries |
6-7 |
Drake |
| Terrence Edwards, Jr. |
6-6 |
James Madison |
| Enrique Freeman |
6-7 |
Akron |
| Kezza Giffa |
6-2 |
High Point |
| Tyon Grant-Foster |
6-7 |
Grand Canyon |
| Donovan Gregory |
6-3 |
Appalachian State |
| Xavier Johnson |
6-1 |
Southern Illinois |
| Dillon Jones |
6-6 |
Weber State |
| Xaivian Lee |
6-3 |
Princeton |
| Malik Mack |
6-1 |
Harvard |
| Aidan Mahaney |
6-3 |
Saint Mary's |
| Zeke Mayo |
6-4 |
South Dakota State |
| Riley Minix |
6-7 |
Morehead State |
| Jonathan Mogbo |
6-9 |
San Francisco |
| Drew Pember |
6-11 |
UNC Asheville |
| Elijah Pepper |
6-4 |
UC Davis |
| Caden Pierce |
6-7 |
Princeton |
| Bryce Pope |
6-3 |
UC San Diego |
| Noah Reynolds |
6-3 |
Green Bay |
| Jordan Sears |
5-11 |
UT Martin |
| Braeden Smith |
6-0 |
Colgate |
| Reyne Smith |
6-2 |
Charleston |
| Isaiah Swope |
5-10 |
Indiana State |
| Jamarii Thomas |
6-0 |
Norfolk State |
| Tyler Thomas |
6-3 |
Hofstra |
| Trey Townsend |
6-6 |
Oakland |
| Shahada Wells |
6-0 |
McNeese |
| Danny Wolf |
7-0 |
Yale |
| Lamar Wilkerson |
6-4 |
Sam Houston |
| Vonterius Woolbright |
6-6 |
Western Carolina |
