Isaac Finlinson of the Snow College men's basketball team has been named the National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year, which was announced Friday. Finlinson is the first Badger ever to receive the award.
 
In addition to being recognized as the NJCAA National Player of the Year, Finlinson was also named an NJCAA 1^st-Team All-American. It's the first time a Badger has been named to the first team since Zach Hunsaker in 2017.
 
Finlinson, a sophomore from St. George Utah, had one of the strongest seasons in Snow College history as he posted 18.7 points, which led the team, and 6.6 rebounds per game for the Badgers, who finished the season with a 32-2 overall record.
 
Finlinson played in all 34 games for the Badgers during the 2024-25 campaign, including 32 starts. He scored in double figures in 30 games throughout the year, including 14 20-point performances, and three 30-point games. He scored 10 points or more in 23 straight games between Nov. 30, 2024, and March 15, 2025.
 
Finlinson made 214 field goals on 415 attempts during the year – a 52 percent clip. This slots him in fifth place all-time for field goals made in a single season. He also connected on 39 percent of his 3-point attempts throughout the year.
 
After averaging 13.3 points per game and scoring a total of 373 points during his freshman season, Finlinson scored 635 points as a sophomore. He scored 16 points in the Badgers' 94-85 victory against Eastern Arizona College in the West District Championship game. His 16^th point of that game – a free throw with 11 seconds remaining – was his 1,000^th point in his career. He is just the fifth player ever at Snow College to score 1,000 points.
 
Finlinson recorded six double-doubles throughout the 2024-25 season, including a 30-point, 10-rebound performance on the opening night of the season against Harcum College. He scored 35 points in the Badgers' 120-78 victory against Utah State University Eastern. It is tied for the fifth-highest single-game scoring total in program history.
 
For his career as a Badger, Finlinson averaged 16.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game across two seasons. He's a career 52 percent shooter from the field and 39 percent from long distance. His 205 made free throws rank him fifth all-time at Snow College.
 
Finlinson was named the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Year following the conclusion of the Region 18 Championship. In conference play, Finlinson averaged 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on 53 percent shooting from the field and 46 percent from beyond the arc. Finlinson was named the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Week on five separate occasions during the season.
 
During the Region 18 Championship, which Snow College hosted for the first time since 2021, Finlinson averaged 22.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, including a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double in the first round against Salt Lake Community College. As a result, he was named to the Region 18 All-Tournament Team.
 
Finlinson was also named the JUCO Jam National Player of the Year following his stellar sophomore season.
 
"Isaac 'Ike' Finlinson has impacted and inspired our team and our community with his consistency and fearlessness," Head Coach Andrew May said. "Ike is incredibly competitive in his drive to become the best he can be. As a captain, he led our team to the winningest season in school history. Ike's growth mindset set the tone with our team as he was constantly seeking feedback so he could grow as a player and a leader. Ike was successful in the big moments as well as the everyday grind. I am so proud of what he accomplished, but also of all the teammates who unselfishly gave so we could have an unprecedented year. Ike has an incredibly bright future!"
 
Finlinson has not yet committed to a school for next season but holds over 10 offers from NCAA Division I Schools.