Michigan State University Athletics
Aaron Henry Selected to Naismith Trophy Watch List
11/20/2020 2:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State junior forward Aaron Henry (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) was one of 50 men's basketball players selected to the 2021 Naismith Trophy Watch List by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Thursday.
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches.
Henry, who was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team, started in 29 of 30 games last year and was third on the team in scoring (10.0 ppg), rebounding (4.6 rpg), assists (2.9 apg) and minutes played (29.1 mpg). A 6-6 junior forward, he scored a career-high 18 points against Virginia Tech in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational and reached double figures in scoring 16 times last year, including six of the last seven games of the season.
Henry, who had submitted his for consideration for the 2020 NBA Draft but ultimately decided to return to school, enters his junior season having started in 51 of 69 career games, averaging 7.8 points per game.
A list of the midseason 30 team will be released in early February, followed by the 10 national semifinalists and four finalists on March 4, 2021, and March 16, 2021, respectively. Players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. The 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy will be awarded during the Final Four at the Naismith Awards Brunch on April 4, 2021.
Michigan State, ranked No. 13 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 and No. 12 in the USA Today Coaches poll, opens the 2020-21 regular season on Wednesday, Nov. 25, hosting Eastern Michigan.
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches.
Henry, who was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team, started in 29 of 30 games last year and was third on the team in scoring (10.0 ppg), rebounding (4.6 rpg), assists (2.9 apg) and minutes played (29.1 mpg). A 6-6 junior forward, he scored a career-high 18 points against Virginia Tech in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational and reached double figures in scoring 16 times last year, including six of the last seven games of the season.
Henry, who had submitted his for consideration for the 2020 NBA Draft but ultimately decided to return to school, enters his junior season having started in 51 of 69 career games, averaging 7.8 points per game.
A list of the midseason 30 team will be released in early February, followed by the 10 national semifinalists and four finalists on March 4, 2021, and March 16, 2021, respectively. Players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. The 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy will be awarded during the Final Four at the Naismith Awards Brunch on April 4, 2021.
Michigan State, ranked No. 13 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 and No. 12 in the USA Today Coaches poll, opens the 2020-21 regular season on Wednesday, Nov. 25, hosting Eastern Michigan.
Players Mentioned
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