KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Small College Basketball and the National Awards Committee is proud to announce the Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List for the 2022-23 season.

The Top 100 Watch List consists of some of the top players from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA.

Northwest Missouri State University has two players on the 2023 Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List in senior Diego Bernard and freshman Bennett Stirtz. Stirtz is the only freshman on the initial list.

Bernard is tops on the Bearcats in scoring (16.4 ppg), rebounding (5.1), assists (59 total), field goals made (96) and free throws made (63). Bernard ranks No. 2 in the MIAA by draining 60.4% of his field goals. Bernard recorded his 17th career 20-point scoring game, and his sixth of the season, with his 23-point output in a 74-57 win at Newman. Bernard has posted 108 career double-figure scoring games. Bernard ranks No. 4 on Northwest's all-time scoring chart with 1,930 points. Bernard is the only active MIAA player to have at least 1,900 points, 800 rebounds, 400 assists and 100 made three-pointers. Bernard has tallied 1,930 points, 879 rebounds, 463 assists and 140 made three-pointers. Bernard is one of seven active NCAA men's basketball players and the only Div. II player with at least 1,900 points and 800 rebounds. Bernard is one of 10 active NCAA men's basketball players (and the only Div. II player) with at least 1,900 points and 400 assists.

Stirtz leads the MIAA in field goal percentage (62.2%), steals (37) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.55). Stirtz is tied for No. 16 in the nation in total steals (37). He has recorded at least one steal in every game this season. He has posted at least two steals in 13 of 17 games. He is averaging 13.6 points per game while leading the Bearcats in minutes played (32.3). He ranks 10th in the MIAA in minutes. Stirtz ranks No. 5 in the MIAA in free throw percentage (83.9%). Stirtz has knocked in 52-of-62 at the charity stripe. He has also drained 22-of-46 from three-point range (47.8%). He has made at least one three-pointer in 13 of 17 games played. Stirtz gained his 14th double-figure scoring game of the year with a 12-point effort at Newman.

John McCarthy had this to say about this year's Top 100 Watch List:

"Congratulations to the 100 players on the Bevo Francis Award Watch List, as this is a prestigious honor to be included on the list of only 100 players out of approximately 13,000-16,000 players at the small college levels," stated McCarthy. "This is an extremely challenging process for our committee, and I appreciate a great deal of information provided by our committee, and from coaches and supporters from throughout the country. Again, congratulations to the players on the Bevo Francis Watch List, and thank you to our committee."

The Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball. Considerations will be season statistics and 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.

2023 marks the seventh year of the Bevo Francis Award. Past winners include Dominez Burnett of Davenport University in 2016, Justin Pitts of Northwest Missouri State University in 2017, Emanuel Terry of Lincoln Memorial University in 2018, Aston Francis of Wheaton College in 2019, Kyle Mangas of Indiana Wesleyan University in 2020 and Trevor Hudgins of Northwest Missouri State University in 2022. The award was not presented during the 2021 season.

On February 15th, the list will be reduced to the Top 50 players. One month later on March 15th, the Top 25 players will be announced. On April 1st, the finalists of this year's award will be announced, followed by the Bevo Francis Award winner being crowned on April 3rd.

The Bevo Francis Awards Committee consists of the following coaches: Gary Stewart – Stevenson (MD), Chris Briggs – Georgetown College (KY), Bill Dreikosen – Rocky Mountain (MT), Mark Berokoff – Oklahoma City, Mike Donnelly – Florida Southern, Sam Hargraves – Olivet, Stephen Brennan – Babson, Richard Westerlund – Great Lakes Christian, Chase Tiechmann – Florida College, Aaron Siebenthall – Ottawa (KS), Tae Norwood – Humboldt State, Mark Vanderslice – USC-Aiken, Grant Leep, Seattle Pacific, Matt O'Brien – Southwestern (KS), Chris Wright – Langston (OK), Nathan Champion – LeMoyne.

To stay up to date on all things Small College Basketball, please head to smallcollegebasketball.com.