Northern Michigan University’s Dylan Kuehl, right, makes this jumper during a GLIAC game played against Wayne State at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Jan. 24. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — Men’s basketball player Dylan Kuehl of Northern Michigan University was named over the weekend to the Watch List of a prestigious national award.

The 6-foot-6, 200-pound graduate student forward from Iron Ridge, Wisconsin, was named as one of 25 players nationally to watch for the Trevor Hudgins Award honoring a senior (or later) who has the best four- or five-year collegiate career within what is termed “Small College Basketball.”

Earlier in the season, Kuehl was also named to the Top 100 Watch List for the Bevo Francis Award, given to the best Small College Basketball player for a single season. That lists narrows to the top 50 on Feb. 15 and top 25 on March 15 before a winner is announced on April 6.

For the Trevor Hudgins Award, the late John McCarthy made this statement:

“Congratulations to the 25 players that have made the Trevor Hudgins Award Watch List, as this is an elite list of players in their final year of eligibility that have played their entire careers at the small college level — and they have excelled, and helped to lead their respective teams to great success,” he said at the time of the creation of the award. “Thank you to our (Small College Basketball) National Awards Committee for providing excellent information and insight, and thank you to all of those coaches, (sports information directors) and others that have submitted nominations.”

Kuehl earned notice for accumulating 1,844 career points, which ranks fifth in Division II. He’s also third with 699 field goals, seventh with 756 rebounds and 14th with 117 blocked shots, being just one of seven active players with both 1,500 points and 600 rebounds.

In his college career, he is shooting 51.7%, a statistic also illustrating his dominance in D-II.

This season, he’s averaging 18.9 ppg, 6.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 blocks per outing while shooting 53.1% from the floor and 34.5% on 3-pointers.

The Trevor Hudgins Award is named in honor of a Northwest Missouri State player who had a historic career with the Bearcats, leading them to three consecutive NCAA Division II national championships.

Over his career, Hudgins started every game his team played, never losing an NCAA Tournament game as he led NWMSU to a remarkable 17-0 record in the D-II national tourney. He was named the Division II Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022, holding Bearcats scoring and assist records as he finished his career with 2,829 points, which ranks first all time in the 110-year history of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

This season will be the third for the Trevor Hudgins Award, with KJ Jones of Emannuel College winning the inaugural honor in 2024 and Kaleb Lowery of The Master’s University earning the 2025 award.

This year’s Watch List will be pared to 15 players on March 1, with video of finalists released on April 4 and the winner named in a video presentation on April 6 at halftime of the NCAA Division I national championship game.

Criteria for the award, sponsored by Northwest Missouri State, are overall career statistics and achievements, team achievements, awards and personal character. The player must have played his entire career at the small college level. This is the highest award given to a four- or five-year player within Small College Basketball.

The overall intent is to keep the collegiate legacy of Trevor Hudgins alive and continue to tell his story to the next generation, and provide a national platform to honor outstanding players — and ultimately one player — within small college basketball on an annual basis.

Among the 19 coaches on the Small College Basketball National Awards Committee is Keven Bradley of former Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member Hillsdale.

More information on the Trevor Hudgins Award and Small College Basketball is available online at smallcollegebasketball.com.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the news. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.