State College, Pa. – April 8, 2005 – Penn State Nittany Lion basketball coach Ed DeChellis handed out the hardware at the 26th Annual Nittany Lion Hoops Club Banquet. Three freshmen and two seniors walked away with a total of six awards.
Senior Kevin Fellows (Meridian, Idaho) earned the Scholastic Award, presented by Athletic Director Tim Curley. Fellows also claimed the Nittany Lion Club Senior Scholastic Award. Fellows played in 93 games during his four-year career as a Nittany Lion and was a member of the 2004 Big Ten Foreign Touring Team.
Classmate Jason McDougald (Lewisville, N.C.) was named the team’s Unsung Hero. McDougald played in 84 games during his four-year career at Penn State. Jason was also a member of the 2003 Big Ten Touring All-Stars.
Freshman Geary Claxton (West Haven, Conn.) was named Scrappiest Player. Claxton, selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman team by the conference’s coaches, led Penn State in scoring this season with a 12.7 ppg mark. He also averaged 6.3 rebounds per contest and was among the top freshmen in the conference in scoring, rebounds, blocks and offensive boards. Claxton started all 30 games for Penn State this year, the only
Nittany Lion to start each contest.
Classmate Danny Morrissey (Pepper Pike, Ohio) was named Most Improved Player. Morrissey played in all 30 games during his rookie campaign, starting ten (including the last six). He averaged 7.7 ppg and 2.5 rpg and led Penn State with 53 three-pointers.
Freshman Mike Walker (Lewisberry, Pa.) claimed the final honor, earning the Most Inspirational Player award. Walker played in all but one game this season and started 15. He hit for 6.3 ppg and was second on the squad with 71 assists. Walker also knocked down 41 three pointers.
Penn State heads into the 2005-06 season with seven returning lettermen, four of which were starters.