Kansas Men's Basketball Awards Ceremony Held

April 11, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Freshman guard Brandon Rush was named the Dr. Forrest C. “Phog” Allen Most Valuable Player of the 2005-06 University of Kansas men’s basketball team at the squad’s annual awards ceremony held Tuesday night at KU Memorial Union on the KU campus.

Rush was the first freshman in school history to lead Kansas in both scoring (13.5 average) and rebounding (5.9 average). For his rebounding efforts, Rush also earned the Bill Bridges Rebounding Award Tuesday evening. The Kansas City, Mo., native was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and the first freshman to be named All-Big 12 First Team in the 10-year history of the conference.

Sophomore guard Russell Robinson took home three awards Tuesday. He earned the Cedric Hunter/Jacque Vaughn/Aaron Miles Assists Award after leading Kansas with 152 assists in 2005-06. Robinson was the recipient of the Ted Owens Defensive Player Award and the Danny Manning “Mr. Jayhawk” Award as well. Associated Press named Robinson All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2006.

For the second straight season, forward Christian Moody earned the Ken Koenigs Academic Award. Moody ended his career earning Academic All-Big 12 first team honors each of the last three seasons.

Moody and fellow senior teammates Jeff Hawkins, Moulaye Niang and Stephen Vinson were presented the James Naismith Captain’s Awards and the Senior Awards by head coach Bill Self. Niang and Vinson joined Moody on the Academic All-Big 12 first team along with sophomores Jeremy Case and Sasha Kaun. The KU fivesome were also recognized at the annual awards ceremony.

Freshman guard Mario Chalmers paced KU with a 78.8 free throw percentage to earn the Dutch Lonborg Free Throw Percentage Award. Included in that stretch was a string of 22 consecutive free throws made for Chalmers. A third-team all-conference selection by the AP, Chalmers and fellow freshman Julian Wright were co-winners of the Clyde Lovellette Most Improved Player Award as voted on by their teammates. Chalmers was the Most Outstanding Player on Kansas’ 2006 Big 12 Championship team and set the school and Big 12 freshman steals record with 89 this season. Wright joined Chalmers on the all-tournament team at the Big 12 Championship. Wright earned All-Big 12 honorable mention accolades as well his freshman campaign.

Wright and Kaun each received the Dick Harp Field Goal Percentage Award at the ceremony. Wright led Kansas with a .564 shooting percentage which barely edged Kaun’s .562.

Video highlights were shown, commemorating the Jayhawks’ 2005-06 Big 12 regular-season and conference tournament championships. The event also allowed KU’s departing seniors – Jeff Hawkins, Christian Moody, Moulaye Niang and Stephen Vinson – to address the crowd. The night concluded with the basketball office honoring Kansas Athletics legend Max Falkenstien, who retired at season’s end after 60 years of broadcasting KU football and men’s basketball games.

2005-06 Kansas Men’s Basketball Awards
Senior Awards – Jeff Hawkins, Christian Moody, Moulaye Niang, Stephen Vinson
Ken Koenigs Academic Award – Christian Moody
Dutch Lonborg Free Throw Percentage Award – Mario Chalmers
Dick Harp Field Goal Percentage Award – Julian Wright and Sasha Kaun
Clyde Lovellette Most Improved Player Award – Mario Chalmers and Julian Wright
Bill Bridges Rebounding Award – Brandon Rush
Cedric Hunter/Jacque Vaughn/Aaron Miles Assists Award – Russell Robinson
Ted Owens Defensive Player Award – Russell Robinson
Danny Manning “Mr. Jayhawk” Award – Russell Robinson
James Naismith Captain’s Award – Jeff Hawkins, Christian Moody, Moulaye Niang, Stephen Vinson
Dr. Forrest C. “Phog” Allen Most Valuable Player Award – Brandon Rush