April 17, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland men's basketball team, along with head coach Gary Williams, honored the achievements of the Terrapins during the 2007-08 season at the annual Honors Banquet on Thursday (April 17) at Comcast Center. Over 350 family members, friends and Terrapin supporters came out for the annual event held on the arena floor.
Johnny Holliday, "Voice of the Terrapins" served as master of ceremonies for the evening, which featured the 2007-08 season highlight video, the presentation of awards and an address by Williams.
Senior James Gist (Silver Spring, Md./Good Counsel HS) was named team MVP after capping a four-year career in which he became just one of five Terrapins to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 blocked shots. Gist earned ACC All-Defensive Team honors this season and was named second team All-ACC following his senior campaign. He also earned the Charles "Buck Williams/Len Elmore Rebounding Award after leading the Terps and ranking fourth in the ACC with 7.9 rebounds per game.
Sophomore Greivis Vasquez (Caracas, Venezuela/Montrose Christian) was presented the Ameritel Most Assists Award from assistant recruiting coordinator Robert Ehsan after leading the ACC with 6.8 assists per game. Vasquez's 231 assists marked the third highest single-season output in school history. He ranked tenth in the ACC with a 1.55 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Eric Hayes (Dumfries, Va./Potomac HS) earned the Outstanding Free Throw Shooter award. The sophomore guard shot a team-best 84 percent from the line, connecting on 46 of 54 attempts from the charity stripe. Hayes was perfect from the line in 12 games during 2007-08. Director of basketball operations Troy Wainwright presented the award.
Assistant coach Chuck Driesell presented junior forward Dave Neal (McLean, Va./Bishop O'Connell HS) with the Maryland Basketball Academic Award for boasting the team's most outstanding grade-point average. Neal, who is enrolled in the College of Letters and Science and is majoring in criminal justice, appeared in 22 games during the season.
Senior Bambale Osby (Richmond, Va./Paris JC) was named the Fastbreaker Most Improved Player. Osby improved his scoring average from 5.8 points as a junior to 11.5 during his senior season and saw his rebounding improve from 3.9 rebounds per game to 6.5 per contest. Osby ranked third in the ACC with 2.1 blocked shots per game. Assistant coach Joe Harrington presented the award.
Williams presented the senior awards to Gist, Osby and Jason McAlpin. In addition, he presented the Coach Morgan Wooten Lifetime Achievement Award to this year's recipient, athletic trainer J.J. Bush, who has served in the Maryland athletic department for 36 years.
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.
