The Top 30 D3 Men’s Basketball Players
SCB's 2024-25 Bevo Francis Award Watchlist is out!
Every season, Small College Basketball releases a list of the Top 100 players in the nation across D2, D3, NAIA, USCAA & NCCAA as part of the Bevo Francis Award Watchlist.
The Bevo Francis Award is one of three major awards awarded annually for D3 Men’s basketball. The other two are the Jostens Trophy and the NABC Player of the Year, which both name a top D3 Women’s basketball player as well.
The list will be narrowed down to 50 players on February 15, 2025, with the winner named on April 7th. Until then, we want to spotlight the 30 D3 MBB hoopers who made the initial watchlist.
24-25 Bevo Francis Award Watch List
The Top 30 D3 MBB Players
[NOTE: This is not a ranking. The players are listed in alphabetical-ish order.]
1. Nate Amado (6’3” Sr.) - Babson
The Senior is averaging 19.3 points per game for the Beavers and has eclipsed the 30 point mark 3x so far this season. He’s not new to D3 accolades, but this is his first time making SCB’s watchlist. His prior accolades include:
2024 All-NEWMAC second team
2023 NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player
2. Braxton Benham (6’1” Sr.) - Berry
Benham is averaging 22.2 points per game along with an impressive 5.4 rebounds for a guard. He does a lot of work from the FT line (116 attempts) including going 12-17 en route to 42 points in a 78-72 OT win over Rhodes on 2/2/25.
Berry is 14-7 on the season and 7-1 in conference.
3. Jamir Billings (5’11” Sr.) - Wooster
Billings is a balanced player that fills up the score sheet on a nightly basis. He averages 10 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game for the Scots who currently sit 3rd in the NCAC (15-5 overall, 7-4 in conference).
4. Adam Brazil (5’10” Sr.) - Hampden-Sydney
The 5th year Senior has HSC right back in the national title conversation (17-3 overall, 10-1 in the ODAC). He’s averaging 19.5 points per game and will likely be an All-American again at season’s end. Here are some fun Adam Brazil facts:
3rd year Team Captain
Started 92 of 93 career games
NCAA D3 MBB Final Four All-Tournament Team (2024)
We interviewed Adam in 2024 to hear about his prep for the season and a trip to Europe he took with other D3 MBB players.
Check out the full podcast 🎧
5. Octavio Brito (6’4” Sr.) - Keene State
This is Brito’s 3rd time appearing on the SCB Award watchlist, and it is a well-deserved honor once again.
He’s averaging a monster 22.3 points & 8.3 rebounds per game and is a big reason the Keene St. Owls have been in the D3 top 25 conversation all season (16-3 overall, 10-0 conference).
6. Ryan Broeckel (6’6” Sr.) - Wisconsin Lutheran
The graduate student is averaging 17.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game on the back of his season high (33 points) in a 93-83 win over Rockford.
Wisconsin Lutheran was a preseason darling for many D3 hoops pundits who liked what the experienced squad was bringing back. So far, at 18-1 overall and 11-1 in the NACC, they look like the real deal - much in part to Broeckel’s presence inside.
He’s also gotten a little help from his friends (see #29 below)…
7. Henry Vetter (6’5” Jr.) - Trinity (CT)
Vetter leads a Trinity team that went to the Final 4 last season, and is on a mission to prove it wasn’t a fluke. They’re currently 18-3 overall and 5-2 in the NESCAC after dominating #9 Tufts 81-45 on Senior Day. Their NPI ranking is 3rd in the country, so one would guess that they’ll be back in the big dance come March.
The Junior Guard is currently averaging 15.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game.
8. Christian Green (6’6” So.) - Trinity (TX)
Green is a San Antonio, TX native who appeared on this list last year. He’s doing big things as a Sophomore and keeping Trinity firmly in the Top 25 discussion.
9. Scott Gyimesi (6’6” So.) - Tufts
10. Jahn Hines (6’4” Sr.) - Christopher Newport
No stranger to this list, Jahn Hines has CNU in a familiar position heading into the season’s final stretch…i.e. poised to make another NCAA tournament.
We got to see the Captains take the court back in December at the 2024 Jay Bilas Invitational in Charlotte, NC. They were clearly talented, but were inconsistent at times. They’re certainly capable of making a deep run come March.
11. Tristan How (6’7” Sr.) - New York University
The graduate transfer from the University of Virginia is nearly averaging a double-double with 16.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
12. Carter Huschka (6’7” Sr.) - Wisconsin Eau-Claire
13. Deonte Jackson (5’9” Sr.) - LeTourneau
Is Jackson D3’s most talented scoring guard?
One could certainly make the case that he does the most with what he has, standing at 5’9” and dropping 23.5 points per game. He’s an incredible talent and can score in a variety of ways.
14. Reed Kemp (6’0” Sr.) - Maryville (TN)
It seems like Maryville (TN) always has a guy who can score the basketball.
This year is no different - Kemp is averaging 24 points per game.
15. Drake Kindsvater (6’6” Sr.) - Washington (MO)
16. Jair Knight (6’2” Jr.) - Emory
Hands down one of the best D3 basketball players we’ve ever seen play in person.
We got a chance to watch him and his Emory teammates (including fellow SCB watchlist nominee Ben Pearce) take the court in the 2024 GLI at Calvin University.
Here’s our recap from Day 2 of the event: 2024 Great Lakes Invitational - Day 2
17. Nick Koch (6’1” Jr.) - The College of New Jersey
18. Russ Marr (6’3” Sr.) - Sewanee
Want to learn more about Russ? He just joined Bob Quillman on the Q-Cast for a recent interview, check it out!
19. E.J. Matthews-Spratley (6’2” Jr.) - Stockton
20. Khalif Meares (6’3” Sr.) - Rowan
21. Drew Moore (6’4” Sr.) - Trine
22. Jordan Oates (6’5” Sr.) - Salisbury
23. Christian Parker (6’6” Sr.) - Mount Union
24. Ben Pearce (6’1” Jr.) - Emory
Pearce is the engine that makes Emory’s high-paced offense run.
He’s also an exceptional scorer & shooter in his own right.
25. Logan Pearson (6’4” Sr.) - Wisconsin-Platteville
One of a handful of preseason favorites for D3 player of the year, many thought Pearson would transfer in the offseason. But he decided to stay at Platteville and he has the Pioneers in position to go dancing in March.
26. Shane Regan (6’4” Sr.) - Wesleyan
Regan paces his undefeated Wesleyan squad with 17.7 points per game.
27. Nick Roper (6’8” Sr.) - IL Wesleyan
Nick Roper has been a dunk machine this year, including our vote for the dunk of the year 👀
Check out more of his work via the #d3dunks series from the good folks over at D3Datacast.
28. Aamari Smith (6’3” Sr.) - Whittier
Averaging 28.7 points per game on 50% shooting from the field is 🔥
29. Jacob Stoltz (6’0” Sr.) - Wisconsin Lutheran
30. Joshua Van Gorp (6’10” Sr.) - Central (IA)
For more from Small College Basketball, check out the SCB website or give them a follow on Twitter (X). They are an incredible advocate for Division 3 basketball athletes, and host a great tournament that showcases the level every year.
Thanks for Reading!
Did we miss anyone that should have been included?
Reach out on Twitter (X) or Email us (dthreedirect@gmail.com) to let us know who should have been in the Top 30.