BOSTON, Mass. -- College Insider has named Navy's
Austin Benigni and
Aidan Kehoe as finalists for the Lou Henson Award and Benigni a finalist for the Nolan Richardson Award.
The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the top mid-major player in the country, while the Nolan Richardson Award is presented to the Division I player who is the "heart and soul of his team and a leader on and off the court."
Benigni was named the 2026 Patriot Player of the Year as well as the scholar-athlete of the year for the sport. He ranks among the top-100 players in the NCAA in points (593, 64th), scoring average (18.0 ppg, 95th), assists (145, 95th), free throws made (171, 32nd), free throws attempted (193, 75th) and free throw percentage (88.6%, 33rd).
Kehoe went from totaling 10 points and 11 rebounds as a freshman to leading the NCAA in field goal percentage (73.5%) and ranking among the top-10 players nationally in double-doubles (19, 4th), rebounds (359, 3rd) and rebounding average (10.9, 6th) as a senior. The 2026 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year also scored 508 points and averaged 18.0 points per game this season.
Navy head coach
Jon Perry also is a finalist for three awards from the organization. The Mids enter their first postseason tournament since 1998 and their second trip to the NIT (1962) with an overall record of 26-7. Navy won the program's first outright Patriot League regular season title since 1997 with a 17-1 record.
All of the organization's award winners will be announced during the NCAA Tournament's Final Four.
Navy will learn its NIT opponent Sunday night.
Navy Finalists for College Insider Awards
Lou Henson Award (top mid-major player) -
Austin Benigni,
Aidan Kehoe
Nolan Richardson Award (Division I player who is the heart and soul of his team and a leader on and off the court) -
Austin Benigni
Hugh Durham Award (top mid-major head coach) -
Jon Perry
Joe B. Hall Award (top first-time head coach in Division I) -
Jon Perry
Jim Phelan Award (top head coach in Division I) -
Jon Perry
