Last month, Small College basketball released its second Bevo Francis Award watchlist, consisting of the top 50 student-athletes from Division II, Division III, the NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA. The list has now been cut to 25.
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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 averaging 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 15 to the top 25. David Chavlovich (West Texas A&M), Elvar Fridriksson (Barry), and Zach Hankins (Ferris State) are still playing in the DII Men's Elite Eight. Springfield's Jake Ross is playing in the national semifinals of the DIII Men's Basketball Championship.
The committee will continue to cut down the watchlist as the season progresses. The release dates for 2018 are:
- March 31 — Finalists
- April 2 — Award winner announced
The Bevo Francis Award Watchlist (Top 50)
| Name | Class | School |
|---|---|---|
| Tommy Bolte | Junior | Concord (WV) |
| David Chavlovich | Senior | West Texas A&M |
| Stevie Clark | Senior | LSU-Shreveport |
| Kalidou Diouf | Senior | California Baptist |
| Daeshon Francis | Senior | Texas-Permian Basin |
| Elvar Fridriksson | Senior | Barry |
| Zach Hankins | Junior | Ferris State |
| Haywood Highsmith | Senior | Wheeling Jesuit |
| Tim Howell | Senior | Whitman |
| Ryan Imhoff | Senior | Carroll |
| Deion McClenton | Senior | Keiser |
| Tyheim Monroe | Senior | Cabrini |
| Dan Monteroso | Senior | West Liberty |
| Tanner Omlid | Senior | Western Oregon |
| Justin Pitts | Senior | Northwest Missouri State |
| Justin Reyes | Senior | St. Thomas Aquinas |
| Jake Ross | Sophomore | Springfield |
| Lawrence Russell | Senior | The Master's |
| Dustin Sleva | Senior | Shippensburg |
| Trey Sneed | Senior | Randall |
| Kyle Steigenga | Senior | Cornerstone |
| Emanuel Terry | Senior | Lincoln Memorial |
| Tyrius Walker | Senior | Morehouse |
| Jaqhawn Walters | Senior | Albertus Magnus |
| Akaemji Williams | Senior | Lake Superior State |