KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Elijah Malone added one final accomplishment to his legendary career for Grace’s men’s basketball team.
Malone was given the 2024 Bevo Francis Award, chosen as the best player among all of small college basketball.
The Bevo Francis Award honors the finest individual season among players across NCAA Div. II, Div. III, NAIA and junior colleges – spanning over 1,000 universities and 13,000 athletes.
The honor was announced on Monday night. The award will be handed to Malone in Kansas City at the Small College Basketball National Awards Show on April 27.
Malone, who was named the NAIA National Player of the Year and the NCCAA National Player of the Year, becomes the first Bevo Francis Award winner in team history. The center led Grace to a 34-2 record and a trip to the NAIA Fab Four.
Malone posted career-best numbers this year, producing 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.9 assists per game. He shot 63 percent from the floor, 37 percent on 3-pointers and 81 percent from the free throw line.
The center will finish his career ranked No. 1 in career blocks (308), No. 9 in career rebounds (1,017) and No. 9 in career points (1,953). He also will finish with the best field goal percentage in Grace history (65 percent).
Malone was the 2024 Crossroads League Player of the Year and was also named to the 2024 NAIA All-Tournament Team. He is Grace’s first player since 2013 to be named NAIA First Team All-American, and he’s one of six Lancers to repeat as NAIA All-Americans.