SporMax Abmas of the Oral Roberts men’s basketball team was chosen as the 2020-21 Lou Henson National Player of the Year as the best mid-major college player in the country.
Abmas, an AP All-America Honorable Mention selection, also earned CollegeInsider.com All-America honors as a finalist for the Lute Olson Player of the Year. The Rockwall, Texas, native led the NCAA in scoring averaging 24.5 points per game, while his 686 total points tied Caleb Green (2005-06) for seventh in ORU single-season history. He made 100 3-pointers on the year, the second most in the NCAA and fifth highest for a single year by a Golden Eagle, and already moved up to eighth in team history for made 3-pointers in a career with 187.
The sophomore guard was named Summit League Player of the Year helping the No. 15 seed Golden Eagles to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships with upsets over No. 2 Ohio State and No. 7 Florida. For his efforts on the national stage, Abmas also earned NCAA All-South Region honors scoring 25 or more points in all three outings.
He joins Green (2006-07) in elite company as the only other Mid-Major Player of the Year in ORU history.
Lou Henson Player of the Year Award Winners
2021: Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
2020: Nathan Knight, William & Mary
2019: Fletcher Magee, Wofford
2018: Clayton Custer, Loyola Chicago
2017; Justin Robinson, Monmouth
2016: Thomas Walkup, Stephen F. Austin
2015: Ty Greene, USC Upstate
2014: Langston Hall, Mercer
2013: Matthew Dellavedova, Saint Mary’s
2012: Kyle O’Quinn, Norfolk State
2011: Matt Howard, Butler
2010: Keith Benson, Oakland
Trey Phillps transfers to ORU
Former Oklahoma basketball freshman Trey Phipps has transferred to Oral Roberts University. Phipps if from Tulsa and his father used to be an assistant coach at ORU.