Drew Pember Named a Finalist for the Lute Olson & Lou Henson National Player of the Year Awards

Lute Olson Award Finalists
Lou Henson Award Finalists

BOSTON, Mass. – UNC Asheville men's basketball player Drew Pember was named a finalist for the Lute Olson and Lou Henson National Player of the Year Awards on Thursday. The Lute Olson Award is awarded annually to the top player in Division I college basketball, while the Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top mid-major player in college basketball. Pember is the third Big South player to be named a finalist for the Olson Award and the fifth to be a finalist for the Henson award.

"We are extremely proud of Drew and all of his accomplishments this season," said UNC Asheville Head Men's Basketball Coach Mike Morrell. "But I'm most proud of the type of person and teammate he is. He is very deserving of this recognition."

Pember has posted one of the best seasons ever by a Big South player in 2022-23. Pember is not only the first player in conference history to lead the league scoring, rebounding, and blocks in a single season but he is also the first player in Big South history to be named the Preseason Player of the Year, Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Tournament MVP in the same season. He was also named the Big South Player of the Week five times.

The Knoxville, Tennessee native had plenty of stats to back up the awards he received. He broke Asheville's single season scoring record (720 points) along with the free throws made (262) and attempted (274) records. His 262 makes from the line are the 10^th-most in the history of Division I men's basketball and leads the nation in 2022-23. His 720 points scored are the fourth-most in the country and his blocked shot total of 78 is eighth in Division I.

Pember has totaled 20 or more points 19 times this season, posted 15 double-doubles, and three 40-plus point performances. His top outing of 2022-23, however, came on January 25 where he scored a school record 48 points, made eight 3-pointers, and grabbed 12 rebounds. His 48 points are the most by a Division I player this season. Furthermore, he is the only Division I player to score 48 or more points, make eight or more 3-pointers, and grab 12 or more rebounds in a game over the past 25 years.

Players on teams from the following conferences are eligible for the Lou Henson award: America East, ASUN, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, MEAC, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, SWAC, Summit, Sun Belt, WAC, West Coast. The recipient of the 2023 award will be announced in March, in Houston site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.

The recipient of both awards will be announced in March, in Houston site of the men's NCAA
Basketball Championship.

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Drew Pember Named a Finalist for the Lute Olson & Lou Henson National Player of the Year Awards

Players Mentioned

Drew Pember

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