Simien's MVP Award Highlights 2005 Basketball Awards Ceremony
April 14, 2005
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Senior forward Wayne Simien was named the Dr. Forrest C. “Phog” Allen Most Valuable Player of the 2004-05 University of Kansas men’s basketball team at the squad’s annual awards ceremony held Thursday night at the Lied Center on the KU campus.
Simien, a consensus first-team All-American and Naismith and Wooden awards finalist, led KU and the Big 12 in both scoring and rebounding with 20.3 points and 11.0 boards per game as he was the only player in the league to average a double-double. In addition to his second straight MVP award, Simien earned three other honors Thursday night including the Bill Bridges Rebounding Award for the second straight year, the Danny Manning Mr. Jayhawk Award and he was one of four recipients of the James Naismith Captains Award.
Senior guard Aaron Miles won two awards on Thursday night. He won the Cedric Hunter/Jacque Vaughn Assists Award for the fourth straight year as he led the Big 12 and was sixth nationally with 7.2 assists per game. With 954 career assists, Miles finished as the KU and Big 12 all-time leader and No. 8 on the career NCAA list. The Portland, Ore., native ended his career No. 2 (252, freshman), No. 4 (244, sophomore), No. 5 (242, junior) and No. 9 (216, senior) on the KU single-season assists list. Miles also won the James Naismith Captains Award along with fellow seniors Keith Langford, Michael Lee and Simien.
In addition to the Captains Award, Lee also won the Dutch Lonborg Free Throw Percentage Award. Lee was 31-of-34 from the line this season for 91.2 percent.
Christian Moody won two awards on the night. A two time first team Academic All-Big 12 selection, Moody won the Ken Koenigs Academic Award with his 3.41 grade point average in Pre-Medicine. Moody also the recipient of the Dick Harp Field Goal Percentage Award after pacing the Jayhawks with a 57.9 shooting percentage in 2004-05.
Junior Jeff Hawkins earned the Ted Owens Defensive Player Award. The guard played a key role in 21 games this season as he averaged more than eight minutes and three points per game. Due to his defensive quickness, his play increased late in the season as he averaged nearly 14 minutes in KU’s last six games.
The Clyde Lovellete Most Improved Player Award went to freshman Sasha Kaun. The 6-11 center started two games — both in Big 12 play — and averaged 10 minutes per game. He shot an impressive 53.6 field goal percentage, averaged 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds, and was among the team leaders with 17 blocked shots.
Finally, the Senior Awards were presented to Langford, Lee, Miles and Simien.
2004-05 Kansas Men’s Basketball Awards
Senior Awards – Keith Langford, Michael Lee, Aaron Miles, Wayne Simien
Ken Koenigs Academic Award – Christian Moody
Dutch Lonborg Free Throw Percentage Award – Michael Lee
Clyde Lovellette Most Improved Player Award – Sasha Kaun
Bill Bridges Rebounding Award – Wayne Simien
Cedric Hunter/Jacque Vaughn Assists Award – Aaron Miles
Ted Owens Defensive Player Award – Jeff Hawkins
Dick Harp Field Goal Percentage Award – Christian Moody
Danny Manning Mr. Jayhawk Award – Wayne Simien
James Naismith Captains Award – Keith Langford, Michael Lee, Aaron Miles, Wayne Simien
Dr. Forrest C. “Phog” Allen Most Valuable Player Award – Wayne Simien
