April 20, 2006

Banquet Photo Gallery

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Seniors Travis Garrison and Nik Caner-Medley were among many honored Thursday night at Maryland basketball's 2006 end-of-season honors banquet at Comcast Center. More than 300 family members, friends and Terrapin supporters came out for the annual event held on the arena floor to celebrate the careers of Garrison and Caner-Medley, as well as senior manager Brent Hartman

"Voice of the Terps" Johnny Holliday served as master of ceremonies for the evening, which featured the 2005-06 season highlight video, the presentation of awards and an address by Maryland head coach Gary Williams. Williams was also honored by his daughter, Kristin Scott, in a surprise emotional presentation for becoming the Terps' all-time winningest coach on Feb. 7.

Caner-Medley, who capped a solid four-year playing career by earning All-ACC honors for the second straight season, was tabbed team MVP after leading the Terps with 15.3 points per game during his senior campaign. Williams presented the award to Caner-Medley, who played in all 127 possible games at Maryland and leaves among the Terps' all-time leaders in scoring, rebounding, steals, blocks, three-pointers and free throws.

D.J. Strawberry earned the Most Assists Award after leading the team and ranking seventh in the ACC with 4.0 assists per game. The junior from Corona, Calif., dished out 128 assists and started all 32 games after moving to the point guard position prior to the season. Strawberry also became just the eighth Maryland player in the last 20 years to lead the Terps in both assists and steals (58) en route to Honorable Mention ACC All-Defensive honors. Assistant coach Michael Adams presented the award.

Junior forward Ekene Ibekwe was presented the Charles "Buck" Williams/Len Elmore Rebounding Award after leading the Terps and ranking 16th in the ACC with 6.6 boards per game. The Carson, Calif., native led the team in rebounding on 13 occasions and hauled in 10-or-more boards in six games. Ibekwe also posted a team-best five double-doubles during the season. Assistant coach Keith Booth presented the award.

Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Support and Career Development Anton Goff presented freshman forward Dave Neal with the Maryland Basketball Academic Award for boasting the teams' most outstanding grade point average. Neal, who is enrolled in the College of Letters and Science and will be majoring in criminal justice, appeared in 13 games during his rookie campaign.

Junior walk-on Gini Chukura was honored with the "Mr. Hustle Award", which is sponsored by the Maryland Fastbreakers. Chukura joined the Terps as a walk-on at the midpoint of last season and has been a model of consistency and effort in practice and games when called upon. Chukura, who appeared in 11 games this season, was presented the award by Hall of Fame athletic trainer J.J. Bush, who is in his 34th season at Maryland.

Mike Jones was presented the Outstanding Free Throw Shooter Award by assistant coach Rob Moxley. The junior guard shot a team-best 90 percent from the line connecting on 44-of-49 attempts. Jones converted 32-of-35 free throws (92 percent) in ACC play and missed just one attempt from the charity stripe the final eight games.

The Sixth Man Award was presented to Garrison, who averaged a steady 8.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 18.0 minutes of action off the bench this season. The senior forward provided the Terps with experience and maturity as he played in 31-of-32 games. Garrison finished his career ranked eighth all-time at Maryland with 136 career blocked shots, while also ranking among the all-time Terps with 623 career rebounds and 939 career points. Director of Basketball Operations Troy Wainwright presented the award.

Garrison and Caner-Medley were also recipients of senior awards, as was team manager Brent Hartman.

Hartman was a four-year manager from MeCanopy, Fla., who was part of the Terps' 2003 NCAA Sweet Sixteen team and the 2004 ACC Championship squad. Hartman, who traveled with Maryland to Italy in August of 2004, will graduate from Maryland in May with a degree in history.

Williams presented the senior awards, showed his appreciation to the fans for their support and thanked the staff for their efforts. He also presented the Coach Morgan Wooten Lifetime Achievement Award to this year's recipient, Bob Mitchell.

The Morgan Wooten Lifetime Achievement Award is named after America's all-time winningest high school coach and Maryland graduate from the class of 1956, Morgan Wooten. Wooten retired with a lifetime coaching record of 1,274-192 (.869) after 46 seasons at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md., boasting five high school national championships and 13 NBA players.

Mitchell is the former president of the Terrapin Club, of which he has been a member for 32 years. He is a founding member of F.O.G., the Friends of Gary booster club, and is credited with establishing the club's name. Mitchell is currently a member of the University of Maryland system Board of Regents and is also a Building Partner of Comcast Center.

2005-06 Award Winners