Van Kalsbeek Named 2026 Bevo Francis Award Winner

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Small College Basketball has named Jesse Van Kalsbeek as the recipient of the 2026 Bevo Francis Award, being chosen as the top men's basketball player across NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA, and junior colleges.

Named Player of the Year by the GPAC, NAIA, and NABC, Van Kalsbeek led the NAIA in points per game (27.8) and was second nationally in rebounding average (12.4). He recorded 27 double-doubles, one triple double, and set single-season school records in field goals made (356) and free throws made (219). Van Kalsbeek's 945 points in his sophomore season is second all time while his 1,623 career points is already 19^th in program history.

"We are extremely proud of Jesse and the well-deserved honors he has received. For him to win the Bevo Francis Award with roughly 15,000 eligible student-athletes speaks volumes about him, his teammates, and Northwestern College," commented head coach Colton Kooima. "He is a special player, but more importantly he is a special person who is going to continue improving. We are proud of how he has represented Northwestern basketball."

Van Kalsbeek is the third NAIA player to receive the Bevo Francis Award in its 10-year history, joining Elijah Malone (Grace, 2024) and Kyle Mangas (Indiana Wesleyan, 2020). Northwestern guard Jalen Langsy was also named among the eight finalists for the award.

PAST BEVO FRANCIS AWARD WINNERS
2025 – MJ Iraldi (Nova Southeastern)
2024 – Elijah Malone (Grace)
2023 – RJ Sunahara (Nova Southeastern)
2022 – Trevor Hudgins (Northwest Missouri State)
2020 – Kyle Mangas (Indiana Wesleyan)
2019 – Aston Francis (Wheaton)
2018 – Emanuel Terry (Lincoln Memorial)
2017 – Justin Pitts (Northwest Missouri State)
2016 – Dominez Burnett (Davenport)

ABOUT THE BEVO FRANCIS AWARD
The Bevo Francis Award was created in 2015 and is named after Clarence "Bevo" Francis, who played two seasons at what is now the University of Rio Grande (Ohio). The award is presented annually to a player who has had the finest overall season in small college basketball.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Jalen Langsy: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#42 Jesse Van Kalsbeek: F; 6' 6"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#11 Jalen Langsy
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#42 Jesse Van Kalsbeek
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: F

Players Mentioned

#11 Jalen Langsy

#42 Jesse Van Kalsbeek

Players Mentioned

#11 Jalen Langsy

#42 Jesse Van Kalsbeek