May 03, 2006
Junior Acie Law IV was named Texas A&M's Outstanding Player and sophomore Joseph Jones received the first Shelby Metcalf Leadership Award at the 2005-06 Aggie Basketball Celebration Dinner on Wednesday night at Reed Arena.
More than 500 fans attended the event, which featured a highlight video and the presentation of NCAA Tournament watches to all 18 players by Head Coach Billy Gillispie. Among the attendees was Metcalf, the former A&M coach who retired in 1990 as the winningest coach in Southwest Conference history.
The Aggies finished 22-9 last season and placed fourth in the Big 12 with a 10-6 mark. A&M advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a victory against Syracuse, A&M's first NCAA win since Metcalf's 1980 team beat North Carolina.
Law earned first-team All-Big 12 honors after leading the Aggies in scoring. Jones was second in scoring and led the team in rebounding, earning second-team all-conference honors.
Senior Chris Walker picked up two awards, including the first Chris Walker Hustle Award. Walker also received the Daniel Scoates Garner Scholar Athlete Award.
Sophomore Dominique Kirk was named Outstanding Defensive Player, junior Marlon Pompey was selected the Most Improved Player, junior Antanas Kavaliauskas was handed the Sixth Man Award and freshman Josh Carter was tabbed as the Newcomer of the Year.
The Unsung Hero Award went to the entire scout team, which consisted of senior Edjuan Green, junior Josh Johnston, junior Brian Blackburn, sophomore Beau Muhlbach, sophomore Slade Weishuhn and freshman Drew Benac.
Derek Curlee was selected as the Reed Rowdy of the Year.
The awards were presented by Gillispie. Award recipients were selected by vote of the players, who surprised Gillispie with a special Coach of the Year Award at the end of the festivities.