Sophomore guard Terrence Ross, who last week announced he would make himself available for the NBA draft, was named the Washington Huskies’ most valuable player at the team’s annual awards banquet at Alaska Airlines Arena Wednesday night.
Ross earned the MVP award, sponsored by KJR radio, after averaging a team-high 16.4 points per game, including 25 points in three games of the National Invitation Tournament. The Huskies lost in the semifinals in New York to Minnesota 68-67 in OT March 27.
Ross ranked among Pac-12 leaders in numerous categories, including: scoring (4th), rebounds (6.4, 6th), blocks (0.9, 13th), steals (1.3, 12th), 3-PT makes (2.1, T8th), 3-pt FG percentage (.371, 14th) and defensive rebounds (5.1, 3rd).
A couple of Huskies earned earned multiple awards, including redshirt freshman Desmond Simmons, who walked away with three, including the Wurster Award, Industrial Award and 101 Club Scholar Athlete.
The Wurster Award annually goes to the team’s top hustler and the Industrial Award goes to the hardest worker. Simmons has a 3.0 cumulative grade point average — including a 3.1 during the season — and will share the 101 Club Scholar award with Brendan Sherrer.
Sherrer, Washington’s famous Victory Cigar who also was named the team’s Brandon West Walk On Award winner, made the Dean’s List after a 3.68 GPA during the season. He has a 3.1 GPA and plans on attending dental school.
Junior Aziz N’Diaye was the other winner of multiple awards. He earned the Harshman Award as the team’s top rebounder, and was the John Meyers Defensive Player winner.
Senior Darnell Gant, the only player in UW history to participate in 100 victories, earned the Hec Edmundson Most Inspirational award for a second straight season.
Freshman Tony Wroten, who also made himself available for the NBA draft, was the squad’s Most Improved Player. He set numerous team freshman records, including most points (559), assists (130) and steals (66).
Junior Abdul Gaddy was named UW’s Playmaker of the Year. He led the team and was second in the conference in assists (182) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4). Gaddy’s 182 assists were the third most in UW single-season history. He will enter his senior year eighth all-time with 312 career assists.
Freshman Martin Breunig earned the Coaches Award.