.png&width=100&height=100&type=webp)
Photo by: We Run Race Photos
Cleveland Selected as Finalist For 2024-25 Lou Henson Award
3/17/2025 5:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty's men's basketball junior forward Zach Cleveland has been selected as a finalist for the 2024-25 Lou Henson Award.
The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top player in mid-major college basketball. The recipient of the award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com. The 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, Texas, site of the men's NCAA Division I Basketball Championship Final Four.
Cleveland, who was also named to the Lou Henson Award Early Season Watch List in November, is one of 35 finalists for the award. He is one of three Conference USA players on the listing. Jacksonville State's Jaron Pierre Jr., the CUSA Player of the Year, and Louisiana Tech's Daniel Batcho, the CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, are both included on the list of finalists as well.
Cleveland, an All-USA third team selection, is averaging 11.0 points (No. 3 on team), 6.3 rebounds (No. 1 on team) and 5.1 assists (No. 1 on team, No. 2 in CUSA). The Bloomington, Ill. native's 5.1 assists per game rank 51st nationally. Cleveland helped the Flames win their first CUSA Championship title this past Saturday night. Liberty, the top seed, bested Jacksonville State 79-67 for the crown. Cleveland averaged 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 blocks per game in the three CUSA Tournament victories.
The Lou Henson award honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach, who won 775 games in 41 seasons. Coach 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 made 19 NCAA appearances and four NIT appearances. Coach Henson passed away on July 25, 2020.
Cleveland and Liberty (28-6) are preparing for the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. The Flames, a No. 12 seed, will face No. 5 seed Oregon (24-9) on Friday night in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 at 10:10 p.m. Eastern at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Wash. The game will be carried live on truTV.
Tickets are available starting now at LibertyFlames.com/MarchMadness.
The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top player in mid-major college basketball. The recipient of the award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com. The 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, Texas, site of the men's NCAA Division I Basketball Championship Final Four.
Cleveland, who was also named to the Lou Henson Award Early Season Watch List in November, is one of 35 finalists for the award. He is one of three Conference USA players on the listing. Jacksonville State's Jaron Pierre Jr., the CUSA Player of the Year, and Louisiana Tech's Daniel Batcho, the CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, are both included on the list of finalists as well.
Cleveland, an All-USA third team selection, is averaging 11.0 points (No. 3 on team), 6.3 rebounds (No. 1 on team) and 5.1 assists (No. 1 on team, No. 2 in CUSA). The Bloomington, Ill. native's 5.1 assists per game rank 51st nationally. Cleveland helped the Flames win their first CUSA Championship title this past Saturday night. Liberty, the top seed, bested Jacksonville State 79-67 for the crown. Cleveland averaged 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 blocks per game in the three CUSA Tournament victories.
The Lou Henson award honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach, who won 775 games in 41 seasons. Coach 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 made 19 NCAA appearances and four NIT appearances. Coach Henson passed away on July 25, 2020.
Cleveland and Liberty (28-6) are preparing for the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. The Flames, a No. 12 seed, will face No. 5 seed Oregon (24-9) on Friday night in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 at 10:10 p.m. Eastern at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Wash. The game will be carried live on truTV.
Tickets are available starting now at LibertyFlames.com/MarchMadness.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballJesse Sanders: Faith in the Fight
Thursday, May 01
Coach McKay, Kaden Metheny & Zach Cleveland Talk About The Game Against Oregon
Saturday, March 22
Coach McKay Talks About The NCAA Tourney Matchup Against Oregon
Friday, March 21
Jayvon Maughmer, Taelon Peter & Zach Cleveland Talk About Their NCAA Tourney Matchup Against Oregon
Friday, March 21