Two USCAA student-athletes were named on the Top 50 watch list for Small College Basketball’s 2017 Clarence “Bevo” Francis Award. Reigning USCAA Division I Basketball Player of the Year Brian Bridgeforth of Washington Adventist University and Rochester College’s Angelo Griffis remain in the running for small college basketball’s highest individual honor.
The Bevo Francis Award began in 2016. Considerations for the award are season statistics, individual achievements, awards, personal character, and team achievement. It is selected by a committee of coaches from across small college basketball, and there is only one player who gains the distinction each year.
In the 2016-17 season, Bridgeforth is averaging 19.1 points on 53.9% shooting and leads the USCAA with 11.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game. The senior forward is one of the top defensive players in the USCAA and has led Washington Adventist University to a 20-6 record on the season.
A 2016 USCAA Division I Basketball All-American, Griffis paces top-ranked Rochester College with 21.3 points per game in 28.8 minutes. Rounding out his resume are averages of 8.3 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists, and one of the top 3-point shooting strokes in the association at 37.6%.
Small College Basketball unites the USCAA, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, and the NCCAA levels and pays tribute, honors, and promotes small college basketball players. Combined, these levels of basketball account for nearly 1,200 colleges and universities in the United States.
On March 25th, Small College Basketball will trim the list of individuals in contention to 25. A final winner is announced on April 3rd. You can follow the process on www.smallcollegebasketball.com.
The USCAA wishes the best of luck to Bridgeforth and Griffis in bringing home the top individual award in small college basketball.
-USCAA