AUGUSTA, GA - Augusta University men's basketball junior Demitri Gardener has been named to the Top 50 Watch List for the 2025 Bevo Francis Award, announced today by the Small College Basketball and the National Awards Committee. The 2025 Bevo Francis Top 50 Watch List is comprised of the top players from across NCAA Division II and III, NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA. Of the 50 players to make the cut, 22 were from NCAA Division II.

A junior guard from Winchester, Va., Gardner picked up his second PBC Player of the Week honor this season on Monday. He currently leads the Peach Belt Conference in scoring with 23.0 points per game which is also 11th in NCAA Division II. He is also seventh in the league in field goal percentage. He has scored 20 or more points in 19 games this season with a conference-high of 38 against Chowan back on Dec. 1.

The Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball. Considerations revolve around season statistics, individual achievements, awards, personal character and team achievements.

This is an incredibly prestigious award, as this award will only be given to one player within Small College Basketball per season. 2025 marks the eighth year of the Bevo Francis Award. 
 
list will be narrowed down to 50 players on February 15 and the Top 25 players will be announced on March 15. Finalists for the award will be unveiled April 5 with the winner being crowned on April 7.
 
 
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