April 14, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence College men's basketball squad announced its annual team awards for the 2007-08 season on Monday, April 14 at the team banquet at the Providence Biltmore.

Junior guard/forward Geoff McDermott earned the team's Jimmy Walker Most Valuable Player Award. McDermott had another record setting season as he recorded 250 rebounds and 151 assists for the second straight season. He is the only person in the history of Friar basketball to accomplish this feat and he has done it twice. For the third consecutive season he led the Friars in rebounding, averaging 8.1 boards per game. He also led the team and finished fifth in the BIG EAST in assists as he averaged 4.9 per contest. McDermott averaged a career-best 10.3 ppg. In March, he earned his second consecutive NABC All-District 1 Second Team honor.

Junior Jeff Xavier (Pawtucket, R.I.) earned the Marvin Barnes Defensive Player Award. Xavier, who grew up in nearby Pawtucket, had an impressive season in his first year of BIG EAST action. After sitting out last season after he transferred from Manhattan, Xavier did not disappoint the Friar fans. He led the BIG EAST in steals as he averaged 2.26 per game. In 31 contests, Xavier made 70 steals. He also led the team in scoring (12.4 ppg) and three pointers made (76).

Senior forward Charles Burch (Dorchester, Mass.) earned the Unsung Hero Award. Burch has had a steady four-year career at Providence. This season he served as one of the team captains, providing leadership on and off the court. In four years, he played in 97 games.

Junior center Randall Hanke (New York, N.Y.) received the John Zannini Coaches' Award. Hanke,who has a career field goal percentage of 67 percent, was once again one of the top shooters in the BIG EAST. He finished second in the league in field goal percentage at 63.3 percent after making 107 of his 169 shots. He averaged 8.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

Junior forward Chris Baudinet (Watertown, Conn.) was presented with the Thomas Ramos Award for the top grade point average on the team. Baudinet has been one of the Friars' top students during the last three seasons.

Friar sophomore Brian McKenzie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) earned the Coca-Cola Most Improved Player Award. He started 30 of the team's 31 games and finished fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 10.9 ppg. He scored 20 or more points four times, including a career-high 24 points against Rutgers on January 9, 2008. He was second on the team in three-point shooting, as he made 56 of 138 attempts (40.6 percent) from behind the arc. As a freshman, McKenzie averaged 3.7 ppg.

Freshman Marshon Brooks (Stone Mountain, Ga.) received the team's Promising Prospect Award. Brooks played 18 games and averaged 3.4 points per contest. He scored a career-best 15 points versus No. 22 Pittsburgh on February 12 and Cincinnati on March 2.

2007-08 PROVIDENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS Jimmy Walker Most Valuable Player Award - Geoff McDermott Marvin Barnes Defensive Player Award - Jeff Xavier Unsung Hero Award - Charles Burch John Zannini Coaches' Award - Randall Hanke Thomas Ramos Award (Top GPA) - Chris Baudinet Coca-Cola Most Improved Player - Brian McKenzie Promising Prospect Award - Marshon Brooks

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