Ben Sheppard Named Finalist for Lou Henson Player of the Year Award

BOSTON - - Belmont University men's basketball student-athlete Ben Sheppard has been named finalist for the 2023 Lou Henson National Player of the Year award, CollegeInsider.com announced this week.

The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball.

Sheppard added to his reputation as one of the most complete players in college basketball. The 6-6 guard posted 29 double figure scoring games, including 12 games with 20 or more points.
 
The first player in the conference named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week three times this season, Sheppard was the only player this season named All-MVC First Team and MVC All-Defensive Team.
 
Named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team, Sheppard ranks among conference leaders in 16 statistical categories, including second in field goals made, third in total points and points per game and fourth in 3-point field goals made.
 
The Atlanta, Georgia native stands among select company in college basketball as an active player with at least 1,500 points, 450 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals.
 
A two-time first team all-conference and NABC All-District selection, Sheppard joined program legends Ian Clark and Kerron Johnson to earn first team all-conference honors in consecutive seasons in two different conferences.
 
Sheppard was also runner-up for the Larry Bird Trophy - given to the MVC Player of Year.

Among his notable performances, Sheppard scored a career-high 41 points at Tennessee Tech last season, a conference season-high 35 points at Murray State Feb. 1 and 33 points vs. Middle Tennessee Dec. 10.

He made the game-winning shot at Bradley Jan. 21, game-winning free throws vs. Indiana State Feb. 22, and scored eight points in 100-seconds to give Belmont the lead late against Indiana State in the MVC quarterfinal round.

The recipient of the 2023 Lou Henson National Player of the Year award will be announced in March, in Houston,  site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.

Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 15 of the last 17 seasons, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 20 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 13 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont is one of only five NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 rankings 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence