Clemson Basketball Honors 2008-09 Award Winners at Team Banquet

April 17, 2009

GALLERY (Photos by Mark Crammer)

Clemson, SC – The Clemson men’s basketball team announced its 2008-09 award winners at the annual year-ending banquet at the school’s Madren Center on Friday evening. The Tiger coaching staff handed out awards to the team’s top performers and various support staff.

Clemson finished the season with a 23-9 overall record and #24 final ranking by the Associated Press. The Tigers advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in as many years, earning a #7 seed in the South Region. Clemson also finished the year with a 9-7 record during the ACC regular season, marking the first time since the 1965-67 era that the Tigers posted back-to-back winning records in the conference.

Junior forward Trevor Booker led the way Friday with three awards, including the Paul Bowie Most Valuable Player Award. A second-team All-ACC selection, Booker led the team in points per game (15.3) and rebounds per game (9.7). In fact, he became the first ACC player to lead the league in both field goal percentage (57.1) and rebounding in the same season since Tim Duncan at Wake Forest in 1996-97. Booker was also honored with the team’s Field Goal Percentage Award and Leading Rebounder Award, the third straight season he has taken home both accolades.

Senior captain K.C. Rivers took home a pair of awards Friday evening. For the second straight season, he earned the team’s Road Warrior Award due to his strong play away from home. Rivers averaged 18.1 points per game and shot 50 percent from three-point range. He had three 20+ point performances on the road, including two in ACC play. Rivers also was presented with the Vigodsky-Nash Spirit of Clemson Basketball Award.

Demontez Stitt was named the team’s Defensive Player-of-the-Year. The sophomore from Matthews, NC led the team in charges taken (18) and ranked second on the squad with 48 steals, including 27 during the regular season of the ACC. Stitt also took home the award for most assists, as he had 121 on the season from his point guard position.

Jerai Grant was honored with the Tom Lynch Most Improved award. He improved his scoring from 2.1 points as a freshman to 4.7 points per game as a sophomore. Grant also improved his free throw accuracy by 27 percentage points and his field goal accuracy by 18 percentage points. He also doubled his blocked shot output, from 20 as a freshman to 45 this past season.

Other award winners Friday included Catalin Baciu, Jonah Baize, Bryan Narcisse, Terrence Oglesby, and Andre Young.

Paul Bowie Most Valuable Player AwardTrevor Booker – Second-Team All-ACC selection & All-District III according to the USBWA. – Led the team in scoring at 15.3 points per game and rebounding at 9.7 per game. – Led the team in blocked shots with 63 and in field goal accuracy at 57.1 percent. – Ranked first in the ACC in field goal percentage and rebounding. – Ranked second in the ACC in blocks per game.

Defensive Player of the Year Award – Spartanburg County Clemson ClubDemontez Stitt – Ranked first on the team with 18 charges taken on the season, highest figure by a Clemson player in that category since 1987-88. – Ranked second on the team with 48 steals, with 27 coming during ACC play.

Tom Lynch Most Improved AwardJerai Grant – Improved his scoring average from 2.1 as a freshman to 4.7 points per game as a sophomore. – Improved his field goal accuracy from 46 percent as a freshman to 64 percent as a sophomore. – Improved his free throw accuracy by nearly 27 percentage points. – More than doubled his amount of blocked shots, going from 20 as a freshman to 45 as a sophomore.

Road Warrior Award – Cherokee County Clemson ClubK.C. Rivers – Averaged a team-best 18.1 points per game in road games this season. – Shot 53 percent overall on field goals on the road this season. – Shot team-best 50 percent from three-point range on the road this season. – Committed just 17 turnovers in 11 road games this season.

Academic Excellence Award – Fort Hill County Clemson ClubJonah Baize – Sports the highest cumulative grade-point average on the team. – Majoring in sociology.

Tiger Strength Award – Lexington Clemson ClubCatalin Baciu – Added over 15 pounds of muscle since enrolling in July of 2008. – Improved bench press by 80 pounds since enrollment. – Improved squat lift by over 110 pounds since enrollment.

Mr. Effort Award – Aiken County Clemson ClubBryan Narcisse – Played in 16 games as a first-year freshman and averaged 1.5 points per game. – Shot 53 percent from the field and 67 percent from the free throw line.

Most Assists Award – Union County Clemson ClubDemontez Stitt – Led the team with 121 assists on the season. – Ranked sixth in the ACC in assists per game and assist-to-turnover ratio. – Posted career-high with 11 assists in the win over Liberty.

Field Goal Percentage Award – Greater Columbia Clemson ClubTrevor Booker – Led the ACC in field goal accuracy at 57.1 percent (min. 4 made field goals per game), first Clemson player to lead the league in this category since the 1993-94 season. – Shot an incredible 62 percent in Littlejohn Coliseum. – Ranks sixth in Clemson history in field goal accuracy at 57.8 percent. – Made at least four field goals in 26 of Clemson’s 32 games this season.

Free Throw Percentage Award – Greater Greenwood Clemson ClubTerrence Oglesby – Led the team with an 84.5 percent free throw accuracy this season. – Ranks second in Clemson history with a career 84.8 percent accuracy. – Made 91 percent of his free throws during the ACC regular season. – Made 10 out of 10 free throws in the win over Virginia at home.

Leading Rebounder Award – Greenville Clemson ClubTrevor Booker – Led the ACC in rebounding at 9.7 per game, first Clemson player to lead the league in this category since the 1998-99 season. – Averaged double figures in rebounding at 10.5 per game during the ACC regular season, only player in the conference to average double figure rebounds during that span. – Posted double figure rebound total in 16 of Clemson’s 32 games. – Had six straight double figure rebound games to conclude the regular season of ACC play.

Air Force ROTC Award (Presented to the player who best exhibits the core values of the Air Force, as demonstrated by his integrity, service before self, and excellence in all endeavors)Andre Young

Vigodsky-Nash Spirit of Clemson Basketball Award (Presented to the player who most embodies the mission of Clemson basketball through his consistent leadership, team spirit, and selfless attitude)K.C. Rivers