Emory University men's basketball senior Ben Pearce has been announced as the winner of the Trevor Hudgins Award announced by Small College Basketball Monday night during halftime of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball championship game.
The Trevor Hudgins Award is awarded to the senior who has had the best overall four-year (or 5-year) career within Small College Basketball. Considerations for the Trevor Hudgins Award are overall career statistics and achievements, team achievements, awards, and personal character. The player must have played his entire career at the small college level. This is the highest award given to a four-year (or five-year) player within Small College Basketball with 2026 marking the third-annual presentation of the award.
Video Announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5NJMPES5Ns
As the 2026 Jostens Trophy winner and D3hoops.com National Player of the Year, Pearce compiled one of the most decorated careers in Emory and Division III men's basketball history. He was a four-time All-Region and All-District selection by D3hoops.com and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the first four-time All-University Athletic Association First Team honoree in Emory men's history and the UAA Rookie of the Year. This season, Pearce was the UAA Player of the Year, a First Team All-American by D3hoops.com, a Second Team All-American by the NABC, All-District & Regional Player of the Year by both organizations and was named to the NCAA Division III All-Tournament Team.
Pearce finished his career as Emory's all-time leading scorer with 2,080 career points – the only player in Emory University history to eclipse 2,000 points – while also establishing new program records in scoring average (18.9 PPG), field goals attempted (1,606), three-pointers made (260), three-pointers attempted (729), games started (110), and minutes played (3,679). Additionally, Pearce ends his collegiate career ranking second in Emory history in free throws made (426), free throws attempted (515), total assists (616), minutes average (33.4), games played (110), third in both field goals made (697) and assists average (5.6), sixth in total steals (159), 11th in free throw percentage (.827) and 14th in defensive rebounds (337) and steals per game (1.4).
With Pearce at the helm, the Eagles reached the NCAA tournament three out of his four years and led the team to the Elite Eight as a junior and an appearance in the national championship game this past season. Emory posted an overall record of 82-29 during his four seasons, including a program record 27 wins for 2025-26, as well as a 36-20 in UAA contests with the team claiming the conference championship for the first time since 2022 this past spring.
The award is named in honor of Northwest Missouri State's Trevor Hudgins, who had a historic career with the Bearcats. He led the Bearcats to three consecutive NCAA Division II National Championships. During his career, Hudgins started in every game and never missed one. He also never lost an NCAA Tournament game, leading the Bearcats to a remarkable 17-0 record in the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Hudgins was named the NCAA Division II Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022. He holds both the NWMSU scoring and assists records and finished his career with 2,829 points, which ranks first all time in the 110-year history of the MIAA.
