Sears was one of 35 finalists for the award, which is presented annually to the top player in mid-major college basketball and honors the late Henson – the former Illinois/New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons. The recipient of the 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 2024 award winner will be announced in Phoenix, Ariz., site of this year’s Final Four.
A 5-11, 185-pound junior from Daytona Beach, Fla., Sears is the only player from a university in the state of Tennessee and one of two Ohio Valley Conference honorees (joining Morehead State’s Riley Minix) on this year’s list.
Sears became the first Skyhawk since Lester Hudson in 2008-09 to top the OVC in scoring – pumping in 21.6 points per outing. That figure ranked ninth in NCAA Division I men’s basketball as his 692 total points were the third-highest single-season tally in school history. He also broke a 38-year record for free throws made (162) and ranked fifth all-time in field goals made (227) in 2023-24.
In addition to scoring, Sears also ranked in the top-10 in the OVC in assists (4.5 per game, second), free throw percentage (.839, third), minutes played (33.7 per contest, fourth), field goal percentage (.432, sixth), three-point field goals made (2.4 per outing, sixth), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4, eighth) and steals (1.3 per game, ninth). For his efforts, he was named to the All-OVC first team for the second consecutive year and was just named a National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 18 first-team selection yesterday.
Sears is the only active NCAA Division I men’s basketball player to accumulate at least 650 points, 140 rebounds, 140 assists and 75 made three-pointers in 2023-24, going off for six games of at least 30 points. In just two seasons at UT Martin, Sears has poured in 1,181 points – ranking 10th in school history in that category.
Sears was part of a 2023-24 Skyhawk squad that earned the program’s second OVC regular season championship in school history (first since 2008-09). UT Martin equaled a school record with 14 OVC triumphs while also tying the program record for most wins in the regular season (21).
Ryne Rickman, Sports Information Director UT Martin
