Bradley University Athletics

Elijah Childs Named to Lou Henson Award Watch List

Men's Basketball 1/26/2021 4:04:00 PM

Senior forward Elijah Childs of the Bradley men's basketball team was named to the Lou Henson Award Watch List, announced on Tuesday. The award is presented annually to the nation's top Division I mid-major player.

Through 16 games this season, Childs leads the Braves with 14.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 20 blocks during the 2020-21 campaign. The senior currently ranks sixth in the Valley in points, second in rebounds and fifth in blocks per game as he is also just one of three players in the conference to score in double figures in each game this season.

A two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference honoree, Childs has also helped lead the Braves to two conference titles during his time on campus. He was named Arch Madness MVP in 2019 as Bradley lifted its first postseason trophy in 31 years before being named to the All-Tournament Team in 2020 as the Braves repeated as champions.

Overall, Childs ranks 24th in school history with 1,271 career points, ninth with 793 rebounds and fourth with 146 blocks. Childs is one of four players from the Missouri Valley Conference recognized on the 40-man watchlist.

The award honors Henson, the former Illinois and New Mexico State coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons. Henson is the winningest coach in Illinois basketball history with 423 victories. During his 21 seasons (1975-1996), Henson led the Fighting Illini to 16 postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA tournaments and a Final Four appearance in 1989.

Henson, who is also the all-time winningest coach in New Mexico State history with 289 victories, is one of only 11 coaches to take two different schools to the NCAA Final Four. His teams have made 19 NCAA appearances and four NIT appearances.

The 2020-21-20 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award will be announced in April 2021.

Players on teams from the following conferences are eligible for the award: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt and West Coast.

Childs and the Braves are back in action on Thursday night, squaring off with Valparaiso in a rematch of the 2020 Missouri Valley Conference Championship Game. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Elijah Childs: F; 6' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#10 Elijah Childs
: 6' 8"; Senior
: F

Elijah Childs Named to Lou Henson Award Watch List

Players Mentioned

#10 Elijah Childs

Players Mentioned

#10 Elijah Childs