NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State senior center Kyle O'Quinn has been named one of 25 finalists for the 2012 Lou Henson Award, given annually to the national Mid-Major Player of the Year.

O'Quinn leads NSU with 16.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. He ranks fourth in the nation in double-doubles (17), ninth in rebounds, 12^th in field goal percentage (58.9) and 15^th in blocks.

The award is named in honor of Lou Henson, who retired in 2005 after a coaching career that lasted 41 years. He posted 779 career wins and is the winningest coach at both Illinois and New Mexico State. He is also one of only 12 coaches in the history of the game to take two schools to the Final Four.

The award is presented in conjunction between apparel company POINT 3 and CollegeInsider.com. Schools with Lou Henson nominees will activate grassroots campaigns on-campus to galvanize the student body in support their nominee and encourage voting online. POINT 3 will make a contribution to the general scholarship fund of the school that accumulates the most votes, and throw their student body a viewing party for the NCAA men's basketball championship. Fans can vote online at www.VoteLouHenson.com.

Fan voting presented by POINT 3 counts for one-third of the criteria in selecting the Lou Henson Award winner. A Collegeinsider.com selection committee will make up the remaining two-thirds. The winner of the 2012 Lou

Henson Award will be announced on March 30 in New Orleans, site of the NCAA men's basketball championship. Butler's Matt Howard was the recipient of the 2011 award.