Ferris State senior guard Walt Kelser and Grand Valley State senior forward Jake Van Tubbergen have been named to the initial watchlist for the 2021-22 Bevo Francis Award.

The list features 100 players from DII, DIII, NAIA, USCAA, and NCCAA men's college basketball. It will be trimmed three more times throughout the season before the Bevo Francis Award winner will be announced on April 4.

The award was created in 2015 and is named in honor of Clarence "Bevo" Francis. Francis played two seasons at what is now the University of Rio Grande (Ohio). In his first season, he led the team to a 39-0 record averaging 50.1 points per game, highlighted by a 116-point performance against Ashland College in Kentucky.

Walt Kelser leads the GLIAC in scoring, averaging 20.2 points per game, fronting the NCAA's No. 4-ranked offense (91.6 ppg). He has scored 20 or more points in eight games, including a 40-point effort in a 124-77 nonconference win over Drury and a 37-point performance in a two-point overtime loss to nationally ranked Minnesota Duluth. Kelser, who shoots .475 overall, .432 from 3-point range and .788 from the free throw line, also averages 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

Ferris State, ranked No. 17 in the nation, is 14-3 overall and 9-0 in GLIAC play.

Jake Van Tubbergen leads the GLIAC in rebounding, averaging 10.1 boards per game. He also tops Grand Valley State and ranks fifth in the GLIAC in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game. The four-time All-GLIAC honoree has recorded 10 double-doubles this season, the most in the conference and sixth-most in Division II. Van Tubbergen also ranks fourth in the GLIAC in field goal percentage (.597) and sixth in free throw percentage (.818).

Grand Valley State is 12-4 on the season and 6-3 in the GLIAC.