This annual award recognizes the outstanding individual player in The Tournament based on sportsmanship, ability and overall performance. Presented by the Sons of the American Legion, it is named in honor of Bill French who was an NJCAA All-American at Hutchinson and was selected to the 1960 All-Tournament team. He and his wife, Mary Kay, died in an automobile accident in 1968. A fan favorite during his playing days, Bill played prep basketball at Pretty Prairie before starring at Hutchinson and later at the University of Wyoming.
WILLIAM B. FRENCH MVP AWARD | 1948-59 | |||
PLAYER | COLLEGE | YEAR | |
Allen Holmes | Weber (UT) | 1959 | |
Sid Cohen | Kilgore (TX) | 1958 | |
John Nicoll | Eastern Arizona | 1957 | |
Eugene Poston | Pueblo (CO) | 1956 | |
Danny Dotson | Hannibal-LaGrange (MO) | 1955 | |
Robert Burrow | Lon Morris (TX) | 1954 | |
Denver Brackeen | East Central (MS) | 1953 | |
Dick Garmaker | Hibbing (MN) | 1952 | |
Darrell Floyd | Wingate (NC) | 1951 | |
Gene Garrett | Northeast Mississippi | 1950 | |
Allen LaMont | Compton (CA) | 1949 | |
Robert Crowe | Compton (CA) | 1948 |