ETSU's Ledarrius Brewer
Dakota Hamilton/ETSU
ETSU's Ledarrius Brewer

Men's Basketball

ETSU's Brewer, UNCG's Miller finalists for national awards

Both finalists for Lou Henson Award, Miller for Lute Olson Award

BOSTON – The finalists and All-Americans for the Lute Olson Award and the Lou Henson Award were announced by CollegeInsider.com on Thursday, with UNC Greensboro senior Isaiah Miller earning spots on both lists and ETSU redshirt junior Ledarrius Brewer claiming one of 30 spots on the Lou Henson list.

The Lute Olson Award, which is presented annually to the top player in Division I college basketball, is named in honor of Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson, who won 776 games in 34 seasons, 24 of which were spent at the University of Arizona. During that stretch he led the Wildcats to 11 Pac-10 Conference titles, 23 consecutive NCAA tournaments, four Final Four appearances and a national championship in 1997.

The Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award, which is presented annually to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball, honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons.

A 6-foot, 1-inch guard from Covington, Georgia, Miller was recently named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. He was also named the Player of the Year for the second straight year and was the league tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He leads the SoCon in scoring at 19.3 points per game and in steals at 2.6 per contest.

Brewer averaged 16.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season. The Meridian, Mississippi, native led ETSU in scoring, field goals made (142), 3-pointers made (59) and steals (36). The first-team All-SoCon selection made at least one 3-pointer in his last 23 games played, while scoring in double figures 20 times, including a season-high 30-point performance on 11-of-14 shooting (6-9 from three) in the win over Wofford on Feb. 13.

The winners of both awards will be announced April 1.