BOSTON – NM State men's basketball senior Ian Baker was named to the 2017 Lou Henson Preseason Watch List on Wednesday the committee announced. The honor is especially meaningful for the Aggies with the legendary head coach having led New Mexico State and currently serves as a special advisor on the team.
 
"Ian's nomination is a great reward for his contributions as an Aggie," head coach Paul Weir said. "The fact it is an award in Coach Henson's honor makes it all the more special. Our hope is Ian completes his career here in exemplary fashion and makes Coach and the Aggies proud."
 
The Lou Henson Award is given annually to the nation's top Division I mid-major player. Henson coached for 41 years and is the winningest coach at both Illinois and New Mexico State. His 779 career wins at the Division I level ranked him sixth all-time when he retired in 2005. Henson is only one of 11 coaches in the history of the game to take two schools to the Final Four.
 
Baker enjoyed a breakout junior season in 2015-16, averaging 13.8 points, 4.6 boards and 3.7 assists. The senior also recorded a career-high 26 points at Battle of I-10 rival UTEP last season while shooting a deadly .425 clip from the floor.
 
The recipient of the 2017 Lou Henson Award will be announced at the CollegeInsider.com awards banquet on April 31 in Phoenix, site of the men's Division I basketball championship.
 
Baker, the lone senior for NM State, will lead the Aggies out onto Lou Henson Court on Friday, Nov. 11, when they tip-off the 2016-17 season against Arizona Christian at 7:30 p.m. (MT).