NWMSU’s Hudgins Wins Bevo Francis Award

(Bearcatsports.com)-

 

Northwest Missouri State point guard Trevor Hudgins has been named the 2022 Bevo Francis Award winner presented by Small College Basketball.

Hudgins, a native of Manhattan, Kan., is the second Bearcat to earn the Bevo Francis Award. Justin Pitts took home the honor in 2017.

The Clarence “Bevo” Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball, ibncluding those in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA Division I, NAIA Division II, USCAA and NCCAA.

Hudgins capped his Bearcat career with the program’s third consecutive NCAA Division II national championship in 2021-22. Hudgins posted a career record of 131-8, which included a perfect 17-0 mark in NCAA Tournament games. Hudgins helped the Bearcats claim three consecutive NCAA Division II national championships. In addition to the national titles, Hudgins led the Bearcats to four MIAA regular season championships, three MIAA Tournament titles and four NCAA Central Region crowns.

Hudgins put together one of the best seasons ever by an NCAA Division II men’s basketball performer. Hudgins averaged 23.0 points and 4.3 assists per game. Hudgins led all NCAA men’s basketball players in points scored (897) this season. Hudgins was one of 15 players in all of the NCAA’s men’s basketball divisions to have scored at least 700 points this season. He was one of four players to reach 800 points in 2021-22.

Among NCAA Division II men’s basketball players this season, Hudgins ranked No. 1 in the nation in total points (897), three-point field goals made (168), three-point field goals made per game (4.31) and in three-point field goals attempted (405). His 168 made three-pointers set the NCAA Division II single-season record. Hudgins was the only NCAA men’s basketball player this season to have made at least 11 three-pointers in three different games.

Hudgins had eight 30-point scoring games this season. He posted 30 against Missouri-St. Louis (11/19), 38 vs. Missouri Western (12/18), 40 vs. Rogers State (12/4), 38 vs. Saint Mary (12/29), 31 vs. Nebraska-Kearney (1/15), 39 at Central Oklahoma (1/20), 35 vs. Washburn (3/6) and 31 vs. Augusta (3/26).

He was named the Most Outstanding Player at the Elite Eight, the NCAA Central Region and the MIAA Tournament. Hudgins also picked up his third straight MIAA Player of the Year award. Hudgins joins Pitts as Northwest’s only two performers to be named three-time MIAA Players of the Year.

Hudgins is a two-time NABC Division II National Player of the Year. Hudgins became only the fourth NCAA Division II player to earn the award back-to-back joining the District of Columbia’s Earl Jones (1983, 1984), Southern Indiana’s Stan Gouard (1995, 1996) and Winona State’s John Smith (2007, 2008). He joined Pitts as the only two-time NABC All-America picks in Northwest’s school history. Hudgins became the first Bearcat to earn NABC first-team all-district status in four straight seasons.

Hudgins was named the D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year for the second time. Hudgins became the fifth consecutive Bearcat to earn Central Region Player of the Year honors as Pitts earned the honor in 2016-17 and 2017-18 before Joey Witthus won the award in 2018-19.

Hudgins took over as the MIAA’s all-time leading scorer in the national championship victory over Augusta. Hudgins finished his career with 2,829 points.

Hudgins sank 435 career three-pointers, which ranks No. 4 all-time among NCAA Division II men’s basketball players.