April 24, 2002

LEXINGTON, Ky. –
Tayshaun Prince was named Most Valuable Player for the 2002 season at Kentucky’s annual postseason awards banquet, held April 24 in a private ceremony at the UK Basketball Museum. The award was one of four collected by the two-time All-American, who also took home the Leadership, Best Rebounder and Best Defensive Player awards.

Cliff Hawkins and J.P. Blevins each received three team awards. Blevins, who will graduate magna cum laude on May 5, won the team’s Student-Athlete of the Year award for the third consecutive year. He also shared the Leadership Award with Prince and took home the Most Courageous honor after battling back from a sprained ankle in early November and a broken wrist in December. Hawkins won awards for Most Assists and Mr. Deflection and shared Most Improved honors with Chuck Hayes.

Hayes also was named Mr. Hustle and won the award for Best Free-Throw Shooter. A new award was given this season, the Bill Keightley Award. The award goes to the individual who understands and exemplifies the pride, respect and the positive attributes associated with being a part of the Kentucky Basketball program. The winner of the inaugural award was Brooks Downing, the team’s media relations director.

A complete listing of the awards follows.

Most Valuable Player Tayshaun PrinceCo-Leadership AwardTayshaun Prince and J.P. BlevinsBest Field Goal Percentage         Marquis EstillBest Rebounder         Tayshaun PrinceBest Free-Throw ShooterChuck HayesMost AssistsCliff HawkinsBest Defensive PlayerTayshaun PrinceMost Charges Taken         Keith BogansThree-Point Award         Gerald FitchCo-Most Improved PlayerCliff Hawkins and Chuck HayesMr. HustleChuck HayesMost PositiveJules CamaraMost CourageousJ.P. BlevinsStudent-Athlete of the Year         J.P. BlevinsBest Individual WorkoutJosh CarrierMr. DeflectionCliff HawkinsBest Assist-to-Turnover RatioErik Daniels
Bill Keightley AwardBrooks Downing

–Go Cats–