April 17, 2006
LAS VEGAS - Members of the UNLV men's basketball team were recognized for their accomplishments during the 2005-06 season at a reception held at the Thomas & Mack Center on Monday night.
Awards were handed out for most valuable player, most inspirational player and for academic excellence. The MVP and most inspirational awards were voted on by Runnin' Rebel players.
The team, as a group, was also honored for recording a Fall 2005 semester grade point average of 3.0.
"A cornerstone of every successful program is having individuals who strive for excellence," head coach Lon Kruger said. "Considering the awards that were presented here tonight, this team has set a terrific standard for others that will follow. It represented UNLV well on the floor and in the classroom and when we look back years from now, we will more fully appreciate all that this squad accomplished."
The team MVP award was given to senior forward Louis Amundson, who led the Runnin' Rebels this season in scoring with 14.3 ppg, rebounding with 8.6 rpg and blocks with 1.3 bpg. He ranked third in the Mountain West Conference in rebounding and seventh in scoring.
Amundson was selected to the 2005-06 All-MWC Second Team, the USBWA All-District 8 team, the NABC All-District 15 Second Team and to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 8 Second Team.
He recorded nine double-doubles in points and rebounds this past season, scored in double figures in 22 games and scored 20 or more points in a game seven times.
"Louis' contributions during his career are obvious and most significantly, the progress he made was because of his work ethic and the commitment he made to his teammates and our program," said Kruger.
Center Joel Anthony was named Most Inspirational Player. Anthony practiced all season with the team, but sat out during games to use the season as a redshirt year. Anthony, who played for the Runnin' Rebels as a junior in 2004-05, will be a senior on the 2006-07 team.
"The appreciation that our players have for Joel's work ethic is clear given this award was earned during a redshirt season," Kruger said. "Joel's teammates really respected his team-first attitude and leadership."
Five student-athletes were recognized for academic excellence by earning cumulative grade point averages of 3.0 or higher. Those five players were Amundson, senior guard Robert Berkey, junior guard Michael Umeh, senior forward Dustin Villepigue and junior guard Wendell White.
The Runnin' Rebels, in Kruger's second season, recorded an overall record of 17-13 in 2005-06 and finished fourth in the MWC with a 10-6 mark.
