AMHERST, N.Y. -- Daemen University redshirt senior forward Justin Hemphill (Buffalo, N.Y.) has advanced to the 2026 Trevor Hudgins Award Top 15 Watch List, announced today by Small College Basketball (SCB), a national organization that spotlights the achievements of non-NCAA Division I men's basketball teams and student-athletes. Since 2024, the Trevor Hudgins Award has been presented annually to the senior men's basketball player with the best overall career within SCB. Hemphill, who was named to the Top 25 Watch List on Feb. 1, is the only Daemen player to be named to the Trevor Hudgins Award Watch List. 

"Congratulations to the 15 players on the Trevor Hudgins Award Watch List. Each of them have had tremendous collegiate careers and helped lead their respective teams to a great level of success. This is a very elite group of seniors, and they should be recognized and celebrated," said John McCarthy, founder of SCB. "Thank you to the Small College Basketball National Awards Committee for their insight and information in this selection process, which is incredibly difficult."

Hemphill leads the team in rebounds (8.5 rpg), assists (5.2 apg) and steals (1.8 spg) while scoring 11.9 points per outing. He is a five-time ECC Defensive Player of the Week honoree and has posted a team-best nine double-doubles. Hemphill is the only player among the league's top five leaders in rebounds (second), assists (third), blocked shots (fourth) and steals (fifth). He's also the only player from an ECC team to record a triple-double this season, totaling 13 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a win over Mercy on Feb. 13, marking the first Daemen player to post a triple-double since Gerald Beverly on Dec. 17, 2014.  

Over his illustrious six-year career as a Wildcat, Hemphill has certainly made his mark in the Daemen record books, appearing in 128 games over parts of six seasons. Limited by injuries to just 12 games in his first two seasons after suffering season-ending injuries in each, the redshirt senior has become an impactful players on both ends of the court. A two-time All-ECC selection and a consensus All-Region honoree last season, Hemphill has tallied 1,291 points, 888 rebounds, 395 assists, 176 steals and 146 blocks in his career. He ranks 16th in scoring among Daemen's all-time leaders, as well as being top 10 in rebounds (fifth), assists (fifth), blocked shots (fifth) and steals (sixth). 

Hemphill becomes the first Daemen player named to the Trevor Hudgins Award Watch List. He's also the first player in program history with at least 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 300 assists. His production has been integral to the Wildcats' team success, helping them post a 101-14 overall record with two NCAA tournament berths and an East Coast Conference championship in the last four seasons. He has helped Daemen to the team's second consecutive ECC regular season title and the top seed in the upcoming ECC Tournament (March 8-9). 

The Trevor Hudgins Award is named in honor of the former Northwest Missouri State University star who had a historic career with the Bearcats. During his career, Hudgins led the Bearcats to three NCAA Division II National Championships and a remarkable 17-0 record in NCAA tournament play. Prior recipients of the Trevor Hudgins Award are KJ Jones of Emmanuel College (2024) and Kaleb Lowery of The Master's University (2025). 

Finalists for the award will be announced on April 4, and the award winner will be revealed through a video presentation at halftime of the NCAA Division I national championship game on Monday, April 6.