April 18, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland men's basketball team joined nearly 700 family members, friends and fans at Comcast Center on Thursday, April 17, for the Terps' annual honors banquet. Longtime "Voice of the Terrapins" Johnny Holliday hosted the event, the first of its kind at the $125-million state-of-the-art home of Maryland athletics.

Highlights from the evening included the video presentation of "A Decade of Dominance: The Story of the 2002-03 Basketball Season," the annual presentation of awards to the Terrapin senior class, and a surprise video tribute commemorating head coach Gary Williams' 500th career coaching victory.

The special awards were presented as follows:

Outstanding Free Throw Shooter (Sponsored by University of Maryland Medicine)
The award for the Outstanding Free Throw Shooter is presented to the Terrapin who has shown the most proficiency from the charity stripe during the 2002-03 season. It was awarded to senior Drew Nicholas, who finished fourth in the ACC with an .852 (115-135) percentage. Nicholas was perfect from the line in 15 games this season, and made a career best 10 free throws vs. Georgia Tech on Dec. 29. He finished his career with a .791 overall success rate from the line.

6th Man Award (Sponsored by Toyota)
The 6th man award is presented to a Terrapin who has made great contributions to the team in a reserve role. It was awarded to senior Calvin McCall, whose leadership and dedication was vital to the Terps, whether playing minutes as a reserve or as a starter. He increased his playing time by more than 13 minutes per game, always providing a spark and averaging career highs of nearly five points and four rebounds per outing.

WBAL Academic Award (Sponsored by WBAL)
The WBAL Academic Award is presented to the Terrapin with the most outstanding grade point average. It was awarded to sophomore Mike Grinnon, majoring in communication. He posted an impressive .455 field goal percentage in a reserve role this season, and scored a career high six points vs. Hampton on Jan. 8.

Charles "Buck" Williams/Len Elmore Rebounding Award (Sponsored by Comcast)
The Charles "Buck" Williams/Len Elmore Award is presented to the Terrapin whose dedication to team success is displayed by his commitment to rebounding. It was awarded to senior Ryan Randle, who averaged 7.2 rebounds per game, finishing the season ranked fifth in the ACC. He posted a career-high 17 rebounds in Maryland's Jan. 18 victory over No. 1 Duke, and recorded eight games of double-figure rebounding. He finished the season with seven double-doubles, including six against conference opponents, and earned third team All-ACC honors.

Most Assists (Sponsored by Pepsi)
The Most Assists Award is presented annually to the Terrapins' most proficient passer. It was awarded to senior Steve Blake, Maryland's four-year starting point guard, and all-time assists leader. He led the ACC in assists as a sophomore, junior and senior, and finished in the nation's Top 10 in each of the past three years, and ranks fifth in college basketball history with a career total of 972 assists. The first team All-ACC selection and AP honorable mention All-America honoree posted a season-high 13 assists vs. Duquesne on Nov. 30 of this season, and totaled 23 games of double-digit assists in his career.

Unsung Hero Award (Sponsored by State Farm)
The Unsung Hero Award is presented to the Terrapin who makes great contributions to the team without receiving a tremendous amount of statistical praise or recognition. It was awarded to senior Tahj Holden, who contributed in each of his 128 career games, whether in a starting or reserve role. He averaged career highs in scoring and rebounding as a senior, and led the squad and finished second in the ACC in blocked shots. He finished his career ranked seventh all-time at Maryland for blocks, and would certainly challenge the NCAA record books if "screens set" and "charges taken" were kept.

Coach Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by Legg Mason)
The Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award is a new award named after America's most celebrated high school coach and a Maryland grad from the Class of 1956, Morgan Wootten. Wootten's lifetime coaching record was 1,274-192 (.869) in 46 seasons at DeMatha Catholic High School. He owns five national championships, coached 13 NBA players and mentored eight former coaches and players have moved on to coach in NCAA Division I or the professional ranks.

The recipient of the Coach Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award is John Brown, the Chairman of the Maryland Stadium Authority since 1999, and a member of the Stadium Authority since 1995. Brown, a graduate of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, is a prominent College Park businessman and the President of the Downtown College Park Management Authority. He sits on the Board of Directors of Restaurant Association of Maryland and is a member of the University of Maryland Alumni Association Board of Directors. Brown is also a Past President of the Terrapin Club.

Player of the Year Award (Sponsored by Chevy Chase)
The Player of the Year Award is presented to the player or players who are determined to make the greatest contributions to the team, combining natural talents with tireless work ethic, tremendous heart, and the desire to achieve. Maryland basketball honors two recipients this year, Steve Blake and Drew Nicholas, who are both seniors, roommates, and friends.

One was the Terps' assists leader and a starter for four years, the other waited for his time to shine as a senior and became the Terps' scoring leader. One owns a jersey that will hang forever in the rafters over Maryland's home court, one owns a pair of buzzer-beater highlight reels that will live for decades in the hearts and minds of the Maryland faithful.

The two comprised one of the finest backcourts in the nation this season, leading a team that returned only one starter to the Sweet 16 for the third year in a row. It was only fitting that the two friends became Maryland's 39th and 40th 1,000-point scorers on the same night in the same game - before a packed house on February 6 at Comcast Center.