BOSTON – Utah Valley junior guard Dominick Nelson has been named a finalist for the 2024-25 Lou Henson Award, CollegeInsider.com announced on Thursday. The prestigious award is presented annually to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball.

Nelson has been instrumental in leading the Wolverines to an outright WAC regular-season championship, being named WAC Player of the Year, and earning First Team All-WAC honors. He is averaging 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, ranking among the nation's leaders in free throws made (155, 30th NCAA, 1st WAC) and free throw attempts (220, 17th NCAA, 1st WAC). He also ranks third in the WAC in total points (471) and seventh in defensive rebounds per game (4.65).

The Lou Henson Award is named in honor of the legendary former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach Lou Henson, who won 775 games over a 41-year career and remains the all-time winningest coach at both programs. The award is annually given to the best player competing outside the power conferences and has previously been won by stars such as Trey Townsend (Oakland, 2024), Jordan Brown (2023), and Max Abmas (2021).

Nelson has also been named a finalist for the Riley Wallace Award, which recognizes the top Division I transfer in the nation. That honor was announced on Wednesday.

The winner of the 2025 Lou Henson Award will be announced at the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.

Nelson recorded six points, four rebounds, and two assists in Utah Valley's 74-57 victory over Utah Tech in the WAC Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday night. The Wolverines now advance to the semifinals on Friday night to face the winner of Thursday's quarterfinal matchup between No. 4 Abilene Christian and No. 5 Seattle U.

For the full list of finalists, visit collegeinsider.com.