BOSTON -- UIC sophomore Dikembe Dixson has been named to the watch list for the Lou Henson Award, which is presented annually to the country's top Division I mid-major player, CollegeInsider.com announced Wednesday.

Dixson missed 26 of UIC's 36 games during the 2016-17 season after he tore an ACL early in the game during a win at DePaul on Dec. 14. Prior to his injury, the Matewan, W. Va., native was averaging 22.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in the nine full contests he participated in. He scored at least 31 points in three of the nine games.

In addition to receiving recognition on the All-Horizon League Preseason First Team, Dixson was tabbed by Street & Smith's and Lindy's Sports as the Top Player and Player of the Year, respectively, in those preseason publications. He was unanimously voted as the League's Freshman of the Year following the 2015-16 season and he earned a spot on the All-Horizon League Second Team after setting a scoring record for most points in a single season by a freshman.

Dixson is one of four sophomores and four Horizon League players on the Lou Henson Award watch list. He joins Preseason Player of the Year Drew McDonald of Northern Kentucky, Jalen Hayes of Oakland and Cameron Morse of Youngstown State. John Konchar of Fort Wayne is also on the watch list. Konchar and the Mastadons will visit the UIC Pavilion on Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. CT. The Flames will square off against another listed player, Jordon Varnado of Troy, on the road on Nov. 29.

Henson served as a college basketball coach for over 40 years and accumulated 779 career victories. He is the winningest coach at both Illinois and New Mexico State and is one of only 12 coaches in the history of the game to lead two schools to the Final Four.

The winner of the 2017-18 Lou Henson Award will be announced on March 31, 2018 at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Event in San Antonio, site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.

Dixson and the Flames open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 10, when 2017 MEAC champion North Carolina Central visits the UIC Pavilion at 7 p.m.