Men's Basketball | 01.15.2020

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Small College Basketball and the National Awards Committee announced the Top 100 Watch List for the 2020 Bevo Francis Award given to the top collegiate basketball player outside of the NCAA Division I realm. The list consists of student-athletes from NCAA DII, DIII, both NAIA divisions, USCAA and NCCAA. Lewis-Clark State's Damek Mitchell was one of the 100 named to the watch list.
 
"This is a tremendous honor for Damek and without a doubt very well deserved," coach Austin Johnson said. "It's encouraging to see his all-around game and leadership be recognized. Damek has made an impact on the LC program since the day he stepped on campus."
 
Mitchell has collected 835 points, 374 assists and averages over 10 points a game through his first two and a half seasons as a Warrior. The junior from Bellingham, Wash. sits second in career assists, just 33 off the all-time record. Last season, he was named an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention.
 
"He makes everyone around him better; he is well on his way to breaking our school record for career assist as only a junior," Johnson explained. "He has helped this program win nearly 80 percent of their games during his time here and we are excited about what's ahead as he continues to lead our team. I'm very grateful for Damek to get national recognition from a great organization in Small College Basketball that does so much for our sport, teams and individual players."
 
The Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball. Considerations will be season statistics and individual achievements, awards, personal character and team achievements.
 
The list will be reduced to the top 50 players in Small College Basketball on Feb. 15, then to the top 25 Mar. 15. The finalists for this year will be announced on Apr. 4, with the winner revealed on Apr. 6.