Fresno State Athletics
Men's Basketball Players Honored at Team Banquet
3/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 13, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - With the NCAA tournament coming up this week, the Fresno State men's basketball program spent Monday honoring the outstanding accomplishments for the 2000-01 squad. The Time Out Club sponsored the annual awards banquet, which was held at TorNino's in Fresno.
Junior center Melvin Ely, who was named the WAC Player of the Year, was honored as the team's most valuable player. Ely averaged 15.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while leading the WAC in both blocked shots and field goal percentage. He was also selected to the WAC All-Defensive team for the third straight season.
Other awards handed out included:
- Coaches Award, which was presented to freshman point guard Tito Maddox, who last week was named the WAC Freshman of the Year.
- Demetrius Porter won the Director's Academic Award for academic and athletic achievement.
- Damon Jackson won the award for Most Potential.
- Travis DeManby was named Most Improved Player.
- Chris Jefferies was named the Best Defensive Player.
- Noel Felix was given the "Believe in Yourself" Award.
- Shannon Swillis and Porter shared a new award called "They Made Us Winners."
- Mustafa Al-Sayyad was selected the Most Inspirational Player.
"I'm very proud of the accomplishments of these guys" said head coach Jerry Tarkanian. " For winning 25 games and making it back to the NCAA tournament is something special and each of the players played an important part of our success. Tonight is a great night to honor our players."
