University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Quinn Denker Named to Lou Henson Award Early Season Watch List
12/18/2025 2:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. — Northern Colorado graduate point guard Quinn Denker has been named to the Early Season Watch List for the 2025-26 Lou Henson Award, as announced by CollegeInsider.com.
The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top player in Division I men's college basketball and honors the late Lou Henson, the Hall of Fame head coach who won 775 games over 41 seasons at Illinois and New Mexico State. Henson led his teams to 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four appearance in 1989, and remains one of only 11 coaches in NCAA history to guide two different programs to the NCAA Final Four. He passed away in July 2020.
Denker's selection comes following an elite start to the 2025-26 season, as the veteran guard has consistently quarterbacked Northern Colorado's offense. Entering the South Dakota game on December 6, Denker ranked among the nation's top playmakers, averaging 18.7 points and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field.
At that point in the season, Denker ranked 14th nationally and first in the Big Sky Conference in assists per game, with 60 total assists (seventh nationally) and a 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio, highlighting his efficiency and control at the point. He had scored or assisted on 29 percent of Northern Colorado's total points and was one of the only guards nationally averaging 18+ points and 6+ assists while shooting better than 50 percent from the floor. His early-season performances earned him back-to-back Big Sky Player of the Week honors.
The Lou Henson Award recipient is determined by a 10-member voting committee consisting of current and former head coaches, along with senior staff members from CollegeInsider.com. The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis, Indiana, the site of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
FOLLOW THE BEARS: Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action at uncbears.com and on social media. Follow the Bears on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsMBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsMBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsMBB).
The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top player in Division I men's college basketball and honors the late Lou Henson, the Hall of Fame head coach who won 775 games over 41 seasons at Illinois and New Mexico State. Henson led his teams to 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four appearance in 1989, and remains one of only 11 coaches in NCAA history to guide two different programs to the NCAA Final Four. He passed away in July 2020.
Denker's selection comes following an elite start to the 2025-26 season, as the veteran guard has consistently quarterbacked Northern Colorado's offense. Entering the South Dakota game on December 6, Denker ranked among the nation's top playmakers, averaging 18.7 points and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field.
At that point in the season, Denker ranked 14th nationally and first in the Big Sky Conference in assists per game, with 60 total assists (seventh nationally) and a 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio, highlighting his efficiency and control at the point. He had scored or assisted on 29 percent of Northern Colorado's total points and was one of the only guards nationally averaging 18+ points and 6+ assists while shooting better than 50 percent from the floor. His early-season performances earned him back-to-back Big Sky Player of the Week honors.
The Lou Henson Award recipient is determined by a 10-member voting committee consisting of current and former head coaches, along with senior staff members from CollegeInsider.com. The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis, Indiana, the site of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
FOLLOW THE BEARS: Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action at uncbears.com and on social media. Follow the Bears on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsMBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsMBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsMBB).
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