Pondexter Named MVP at awards banquet

SEATTLE – The Washington Husky men’s basketball team culminated its season with the annual awards banquet at the Don James Center on Wednesday and the team’s lone senior Quincy Pondexter walked away with three awards, including team MVP.

Not only was Pondexter named the 950 KJR Most Valuable Player, but he earned the Marv Harshman Award as the team’s top rebounder and the 101 Club Scholar Athlete Award. Pondexter ended a string of three-straight seasons in which Jon Brockman won both the MVP and top rebounder award. Pondexter led the team or was near the top in most every statistical category, including scoring (19.3 ppg, 1st), rebounds (7.4 rpg, 1st), free throw percentage (82.7%, 1st), minutes (32.3 mpg, 1st), field goal percentage (52.8%, 2nd), steals (1.3 spg, 2nd) and blocks (0.6 bpg, 3rd). He finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in games played (136) and third all-time leading scorer with 1,786 points.

Joining Pondexter on the podium as a three-time award winner was junior Justin Holiday. Holiday was the recipient of the Wurster Award as the team’s top hustler, the Hec Edmundson Most Insiprational Award and, along with junior teammate Venoy Overton, shared the John Meyers Defensive Player Award.

Sophomore guard Isaiah Thomas also earned multiple awards, taking home the Playmaker of the Year Award for a second-straight season and the Industrial Award, which is bestowed upon the team’s hardest worker. Matthew Bryan-Amaning was named the team’s Most Improved Player, Darnell Gant the Coaches Award for best attitude, while sophomore Brendan Sherrer earned the Brandon West Walk-On Award.

For the first time in UW history, the entire team was presented the Tyee Sports Council Service Award.

Washington concluded the 2009-10 season with a 26-10 record, won the Pac-10 Conference Tournament championship and made its third trip in the last six years to the Sweet Sixteen. Pondexter and Thomas each earned First Team All-Pac-10 honors, while Holiday and Overton were named to the conference’s All-Defensive Team.

2009-10 Washington Men's Basketball Team Awards:
950 KJR Most Valuable Player – Quincy Pondexter
Hec Edmundson Most Inspirational – Justin Holiday
Marv Harshman Trophy (top rebounder) – Quincy Pondexter
Wurster Award (top hustler) – Justin Holiday
Tyee Sports Council Community Service – 2009-10 Men’s Team
John Meyers Defensive Player – Justin Holiday & Venoy Overton
Most Improved Player – Matthew Bryan-Amaning
Playmaker of the Year – Isaiah Thomas
Industrial Award (hardest worker) – Isaiah Thomas
101 Club Scholar-Athlete – Quincy Pondexter
Coaches Award - Darnell Gant
Brandon West Walk-On Award – Brendan Sherrer