OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Penn State men's basketball senior forward Lamar Stevens has been named a finalist for the 2019-20 Senior CLASS Award, as announced Wednesday, Feb. 5. To be eligible for the award, NCAA Division I senior student-athletes must have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Stevens, a two-time All-Big Ten honoree, is among 10 finalists considered for this year's award. A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, product, Stevens is one of only two active NCAA Division I student-athletes with at least 2,000 career points and 800 career rebounds.
The Nittany Lions' leading scorer, he has started in every game of his Penn State career, 126 games, the second-longest consecutive streak in the nation. With his 24 points in the Nittany Lions’ victory over No. 16 Michigan State on Feb. 4, Stevens has 106 career double-figure scoring games, with a current streak of 36 straight.
Stevens became just the third Nittany Lion in program history to score 2,000 or more points in a career when he eclipsed the mark against Nebraska on Feb. 1.
The acronym of "CLASS" stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School. The Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Along with his contributions on the court, Stevens participates in various community service projects every year. Stevens teaches the game of basketball through youth clinics and participates yearly in the Centre Region Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk. He also is a member of the welcoming committee at the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania Opening ceremonies each summer. For three years, Stevens has volunteered at the Centre County United Way "Day of Caring."
Finalists for the award were selected by national media from a list of 30 candidates, which were announced earlier this season. Fan voting has begun immediately to help select the Senior CLASS Award winner. Fans are encouraged to vote on the Senior CLASS Award website. Votes will be accepted through March 23. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the award winner. Award recipients will be announced during the 2020 NCAA Men's Final Four.
For more information on the Senior CLASS award, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.
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