Western Kentucky guard Don McHenry has been named to the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook Preseason All-Conference USA Team for 2024-25. McHenry was selected as one of five players named to the annual publication’s preseason all-conference team.

A native of Milwaukee, McHenry joined the Tops’ roster in 2023-24 and was named as an All-CUSA First-Team selection after appearing in and starting all 34 games for WKU. McHenry was the Hilltoppers’ leading scorer with 15.1 points per game while averaging a team-high 27.8 minutes per outing and finishing as the fourth-leading scorer in CUSA. The Hilltopper guard helped lead WKU to its first-ever CUSA Tournament championship and first conference title and NCAA Tournament berth since 2013.

McHenry was twice named CUSA Player of the Week in 2023-24 and finished the year earning NABC D1 All-District First-Team honors. McHenry secured CUSA Tournament MVP honors after finishing with a team-best 25 points off 9-for-16 shooting and 5-of-6 from the stripe in the CUSA tournament title game facing UTEP. The Indian Hills Community College transfer also charted the third-best field-goal percentage (46.1%) and second-best free-throw percentage (85.9%) in CUSA while posting double-digit point totals in 28 outings and 20-or-more points in eight games.

McHenry led the Tops in free-throw percentage and assists (81) and finished third on the team in steals with 32 total. He posted a season-high 30 points facing Wright State on the road on Dec. 12.

The Hilltoppers enter 2024-25 projected to finish third in this year’s CUSA Blue Ribbon Forecast.

WKU head coach Hank Plona enters his first season at the helm with WKU coming off a 2023-24 campaign that marked a 44th conference championship for the program all-time and 24th NCAA Tournament appearance in the program’s history.

The Hilltoppers begin an 18-game regular-season home slate at E.A. Diddle Arena on Nov. 4 hosting Wichita State.

The Tops will open 2024-25 competition with a charity exhibition game hosting UAB on Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. at Diddle. Net proceeds from ticket sales for the event will be donated to The Harold & Juanita Koon Teen Center at The Boys & Girls Club of Bowling Green.

BLUE RIBBON FORECAST

1. Louisiana Tech

2. Sam Houston

3. Western Kentucky

4. Middle Tennessee

5. Liberty

6. New Mexico State

7. UTEP

8. Jacksonville State

9. Kennesaw State

10. FIU

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

F-Zach Cleveland, JR, Liberty

C-Daniel Batcho, R-SR, Louisiana Tech

G-Don McHenry, SR, Western Kentucky

G-Jestin Porter, SR, Middle Tennessee

G-Lamar Wilkerson, SR, Sam Houston

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Daniel Batcho, R-SR, Louisiana Tech

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Zawdie Jackson, GR, New Mexico State