April 24, 2002

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Tayshaun Prince was named Most Valuable Player for the 2002 season at Kentucky's annual postseason awards banquet, held April 24 in a private ceremony at the UK Basketball Museum. The award was one of four collected by the two-time All-American, who also took home the Leadership, Best Rebounder and Best Defensive Player awards.

Cliff Hawkins and J.P. Blevins each received three team awards. Blevins, who will graduate magna cum laude on May 5, won the team's Student-Athlete of the Year award for the third consecutive year. He also shared the Leadership Award with Prince and took home the Most Courageous honor after battling back from a sprained ankle in early November and a broken wrist in December. Hawkins won awards for Most Assists and Mr. Deflection and shared Most Improved honors with Chuck Hayes.

Hayes also was named Mr. Hustle and won the award for Best Free-Throw Shooter. A new award was given this season, the Bill Keightley Award. The award goes to the individual who understands and exemplifies the pride, respect and the positive attributes associated with being a part of the Kentucky Basketball program. The winner of the inaugural award was Brooks Downing, the team's media relations director.

A complete listing of the awards follows.

Most Valuable Player 		Tayshaun Prince
Co-Leadership Award		Tayshaun Prince and J.P. Blevins
Best Field Goal Percentage	         Marquis Estill
Best Rebounder		         Tayshaun Prince
Best Free-Throw Shooter		Chuck Hayes
Most Assists			Cliff Hawkins
Best Defensive Player		Tayshaun Prince
Most Charges Taken		         Keith Bogans
Three-Point Award		         Gerald Fitch
Co-Most Improved Player		Cliff Hawkins and Chuck Hayes
Mr. Hustle			Chuck Hayes
Most Positive			Jules Camara
Most Courageous			J.P. Blevins
Student-Athlete of the Year	         J.P. Blevins
Best Individual Workout		Josh Carrier
Mr. Deflection			Cliff Hawkins
Best Assist-to-Turnover Ratio	Erik Daniels
Bill Keightley Award		Brooks Downing

--Go Cats--