LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Senior guard Jemel Jones has been named to the Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award early-season watch list, an honor presented annually to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball.
Jones has delivered exactly what the Aggies hoped for early in the season, emerging as NM State's most consistent offensive threat. He leads the team in scoring at 16.2 points per game while also pacing the Aggies in steals, averaging 1.7 per contest. Jones is second on the team in both rebounds (5.2 per game) and assists (2.0 per game), showcasing his all-around impact on both ends of the floor. The senior is the only Aggie to score in double figures in all nine games this season, highlighted by a season-high 24-point performance against New Mexico Highlands – the highest single-game scoring output by an Aggie this year.
The Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award is presented annually to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball and serves as a tribute to one of the game's most influential figures and a cornerstone of New Mexico State basketball history.
Henson amassed 775 career victories over 41 seasons and remains the winningest head coach in NM State history with 289 wins, leaving a lasting legacy in Las Cruces. He is also the all-time winningest coach at Illinois, totaling 423 victories while guiding the Fighting Illini to 16 postseason appearances, including 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament and a Final Four run in 1989.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com. The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis, IN, site of the men's Division I Basketball Championship.
For complete coverage of NM State men's basketball during the 2025-26 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Men's Basketball), Twitter (@NMStateMBB) and Instagram (@NMStateMBB)
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