UCLA hosted its 2014-15 year-end basketball banquet on campus Monday (photo by Don Liebig)
Courtesy: UCLA Athletics
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's basketball program hosted its annual year-end banquet Monday night on campus at Carnesale Commons, with senior Norman Powell earning the Coach John Wooden Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player.
Powell, a 6-foot-4 guard from San Diego, led UCLA and ranked sixth in the conference with 16.4 points per game, starting all 36 games and securing first-team All-Pac-12 honors. Powell, who registered 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a team-leading 1.8 steals per game, played in all 141 games for UCLA over his four-year career, the fourth-highest career games total in school history.
Kevon Looney, a 6-foot-9 freshman from Milwaukee, Wis., was honored with the Gerald A. Finerman Award as the team’s rebounding leader and the Seymour Armond Memorial Award as the most valuable freshman. Looney averaged 11.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, starting all 36 contests. He led all freshmen in the country in rebounding average (9.2 rpg) and double-doubles (15).
Bryce Alford, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Albuquerque, N.M., secured the UCLA Alumni Association Award as the team’s leader in assists (4.9 apg). He also was honored with the Bruin Hoopsters J.D. Morgan Memorial Award for outstanding team play. Alford capped his sophomore year having registered 15.4 points, 4.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game.
In addition, Alford earned the Bob “Ace” Calkins Memorial Award as the team’s top free throw shooter. He shot 83.8 percent from the free throw line, making 119 of 142 attempts and recording the fourth-highest percentage of all Pac-12 players.
Tony Parker, a 6-foot-9 forward/center from Atlanta, Ga., was honored with the Player Improvement Award, highlighting the student-athlete who displays the most improvement in all-around play and mental attitude. Parker finished his junior season having averaged 11.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, playing in 34 contests and making 33 starts. He led the team in field goal percentage, shooting 56.4 percent from the field (150 of 276).
Isaac Hamilton, a 6-foot-5 guard from Los Angeles, earned the Irv Pohlmeyer Memorial Award as the team’s outstanding defensive player. Hamilton averaged 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He totaled 32 steals (0.9 spg) and finished his sophomore season having shot 38.8 percent from 3-point territory (59 of 152).
Thomas Welsh, a 7-foot center from Redondo Beach, Calif., secured the Elvin C. “Ducky” Drake Memorial Award for competitive spirit, inspiration and unselfish contributions. Welsh finished his freshman season having averaged 3.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and a team-best 1.1 blocks per game. Welsh played in all 36 games, making three starts, and ranked No. 11 in the Pac-12 in blocks per game.
Welsh and senior Kory Alford were honored as recipients of the UCLA Faculty Athletic Representative Award, presented for academic achievement and team contribution. Welsh has maintained over a 3.0 grade point average throughout his freshman year. Kory Alford has fulfilled his graduation requirements and will earn his degree in sociology this June with a cumulative UCLA grade point average above 3.0.
UCLA concluded its 2014-15 campaign with a 22-14 record, advancing to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season. The Bruins went 11-7 in Pac-12 action, finishing fourth in the conference’s regular-season standings before advancing to the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament. UCLA earned back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances for the first time since 2008.
