Florida Southern College men’s basketball standouts Brett Hanson and Jalyn Hinton have been named to the initial Top 100 Watch List for the prestigious Bevo Francis Award, it was announced on Wednesday by Small College Basketball and the National Awards Committee. The Clarence “Bevo” Francis Award is given annually to the top non-division I men’s basketball player in the country and includes student-athletes from NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA Divisions I and II, the USCAA, and NCCAA.
“Congratulations to all of the players that have made the initial Bevo Francis Award Watch List of 100 players for the 2019-20 season,” said John McCarthy, founder of Small College Basketball. “This is a very elite group of players that have been chosen from approximately 1,100 – 1,200 colleges and universities throughout the country.”
Hanson and Hinton have had incredible individual seasons for the Moccasins, who are currently 13-2 (5-2 SSC) and ranked No. 11 in the latest NABC Coaches Poll. This is the second-straight season that Florida Southern has had a men’s basketball student-athlete named to the initial watch list for the award. Jonathan Lawton ended last season as one of nine finalists for the award. Former Moccasin all-American Dylan Travis was also on the initial Top 100 during the 2015-16 campaign.
Hanson is one of the best all-around players in the nation, averaging 21.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. He ranks among the top 50 nationally in points per game (34th), assists per game (40th), minutes per game (24th – 36:34), total assists (37th – 81), field goals made (13th – 127), and total points (29th – 321). Earlier this season, Hanson recorded just the fourth triple-double in program history with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists against Lynn (Dec. 14). He is one of just six players in all NCAA Divisions with 1,500 points and 600 rebounds in his career, and one of just four with 1,500 points and 350 assists.
Hinton is one of the top big men in the nation, averaging 15.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, and 3.3 assists per game. He leads the nation in blocks per game, and is among the top 50 in total blocks (2nd – 47), defensive rebounds per game (42nd – 6.42), double-doubles (18th – 7), field-goal percentage (7th – 65.8), offensive rebounds per game (10th – 3.92), and rebounds per game (9th). Hinton has recorded at least three blocks in 10 of the 12 games he has played in this season, including seven against West Alabama (Nov. 10) and Saint Leo (Dec. 4).
Considerations will be season statistics and individual achievements, awards, personal character, and team achievements. This is an incredibly prestigious award, as this award will only be given to one player within Small College Basketball per season.
2020 marks the fifth year of the Bevo Francis Award. Past winners include Dominez Burnett of Davenport University in 2016, Justin Pitts of Northwest Missouri State University in 2017, Emanuel Terry of Lincoln Memorial University in 2018, and Aston Francis of Wheaton College in 2019.
On February 15th, the list will be reduced to the Top 50 players. One month later on March 15th, the Top 25 players will be announced. On April 4th, the finalists of this year’s award will be announced, followed by the Bevo Francis Award winner being crowned on April 6th.