NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University senior guard Joe Bryant Jr. was named Wednesday to the mid-season watch list for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year award.

The award, which is presented annually by CollegeInsider.com since 2010 to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball, honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons.

Bryant has been a big reason for the Spartans' 9-4 start to the season, their best-ever at the Division I level. The senior guard is averaging 14.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

He ranks fifth nationally in free throw percentage, at 94.4 percent.
 
Bryant is one of 41 players to make the initial watch list. Players on teams from the following conferences are eligible for the award: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast. Bryant is the only MEAC player on the list, which can be viewed at LouHenson.com.

Norfolk State is familiar with the Lou Henson Award; former Spartan star Kyle O'Quinn won the award in 2012.