Bevo Francis Award Top 50 watchlist announced

Last month, Small College Basketball released the initial Bevo Francis Award watchlist, consisting of the Top 100 student-athletes from Division II, Division III, the NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA. The list has now been cut to 50.

RELATED: 6 of the best scorers in DII basketball

The award was created in 2015 and is named after Clarence "Bevo" Francis. Francis played two seasons at what is now the University of Rio Grande. In his first season, he led the team to a 39-0 record avergaing 50.1 points per game, highlighted by a 116-point performance against Ashland College in Kentucky.

Get to know @WLUHoops Dan Monteroso and how his team is averaging 110 points per game! pic.twitter.com/ONIoQ5Qvbi

— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII) February 1, 2018

DII basketball continues to dominate the watchlist. After sending 47 to the initial Top 100, DII basketball sends 31 to the Top 50. Lincoln Memorial had three players named (Dorian Pinson, Trevon Shaw, and Emanuel Terry), the most of any DII school. 

The committee will continue to cut down the watchlist as the season progresses. The release dates for 2018 are:

March 15 -- Top 25
March 31 -- Finalists
April 2 -- Award winner announced

The Bevo Francis Award Watchlist (Top 50)