BOSTON – Indiana State center Robbie Avila and guard Isaiah Swope were named finalists for the 2024 Lou Henson National Player of the Year, as announced Wednesday by CollegeInsider.
 
The Sycamore duo were among 41 student-athletes named finalists for the award, which is presented to the top player in mid-major college basketball. Indiana State was one of two schools, along with Princeton, to have multiple finalists.
 
Avila, a 6-10 sophomore center from Oak Forest, Illinois, was named a First Team All-MVC performer in 2023-24 after leading Indiana State in scoring with 17.5 points per game. He also ranks second on the team in rebounds with 6.6 per game and assists with 3.8 per game. Avila's numbers jumped in MVC play to 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. He shot nearly 55 percent from the field this season while also knocking down 40.5 percent of his 3-point attempts and 82 percent of his free throws.
 
For the season, Avila scored in double-figures in 28 of his 32 games played, including 10 games with 20-plus points. He also pulled down five or more rebounds in 23 games, knocked down three or more 3-pointers on eight occasions and dished out three or more assists 21 times. Avila had five double-doubles this season, which ranked second on the team. He also earned MVC Player of the Week honors once this season following a career-high 35-point night at Evansville which helped Indiana State clinch the MVC regular season title. Avila's career highs in points (35), rebounds (14), assists (eight), steals (three) and blocks (two) have all come this season.
 
Swope, a 5-10 junior guard from Newburgh, Indiana, was named a Second Team All-MVC performer in 2023-24 and also earned a spot on the MVC All-Newcomer Team after leading Indiana State with 105 3-pointers this season. He ranked second on the team in scoring with 16.5 points per game, also adding 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Swope was among the national leaders in 3-pointers this season, ranking ninth in Division I with 3.28 threes per game while knocking down 40.3 percent of his attempts from behind the arc.
 
For the season, Swope scored in double-figures in 28 of his 32 games played, including eight games with 20-plus points. He knocked down three or more 3-pointers on 19 occasions this season, including eight games with five or more treys. Swope also added 10 games with three or more assists, six games with five or more rebounds and 11 games with multiple steals. He recorded his first career double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds against Northern Illinois, and earned MVC Newcomer of the Week honors once this season following a career-high 30-point outing at UIC. Swope's career highs in points (30), 3-pointers (eight), rebounds (10) and steals (five) have all come this season.
 
The 2024 Lou Henson Award will be announced in Phoenix, Arizona, the site of the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. The winner is determined by a 10-member voting committee consisting of current and former head coaches along with two senior staff members of CollegeInsider.

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