Senior Malcolm Hill was named Most Outstanding Player at the 95th annual Fighting Illini Basketball Banquet, sponsored by the Champaign-Urbana Kiwanis Club and held Monday night at the I Hotel.
Hill ranked third in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 17.2 points to earn second-team all-conference accolades. His total of 603 points ranked ninth on the Illini all-time single-season scoring list. Hill impacted the game in all areas, standing second on the team in rebounding (5.1 rpg), ninth in the Big Ten in steals (1.2 spg), 10th in the league in free throw percentage (.784) and leading the Illini in total assists (102). Hill finishes his career as the Fighting Illini's No. 3 career leading scorer with 1,846 points.
Hill also earned the Ralf Woods Free Throw Trophy for the second year in a row. He connected on 80 percent from the line during conference play (76-95).
Fellow senior Tracy Abrams won two awards as well, led by the Lou Henson Courage Award for returning to the court after suffering back-to-back season ending injuries. Abrams ranked third on the team in scoring, averaging 8.6 points. He also showed tremendous improvement as a 3-point shooter, connecting on 40.2 percent from behind the arc to earn the Orange Krush 3-Point Shooting Award.
A third UI senior, Maverick Morgan, garnered the Matt Heldman "Matto" Award for the second consecutive season after producing the most hustle plays. Last year Morgan shared the Matto Award with Hill.
Sophomore Leron Black earned the Illini Rebounders Award after leading the team and ranking 15th in the Big Ten with 6.3 boards per contest.
2016-17 Fighting Illini Basketball Awards
Most Outstanding Player: Malcolm Hill
Matt Heldman "Matto" Award: Maverick Morgan
Lou Henson Courage Award: Tracy Abrams
Orange Krush 3-Point Shooting Award: Tracy Abrams, 40.2 percent (51-127, min. 3 att./g)
Illini Rebounders Award: Leron Black, 6.3 rpg (196)
Ralf Woods Free Throw Trophy: Malcolm Hill, 80 percent in Big Ten play (76-95)
Fighting Illini Senior Class: Tracy Abrams, Alex Austin, Malcolm Hill, Maverick Morgan, Jaylon Tate, Mike Thorne Jr
Hill ranked third in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 17.2 points to earn second-team all-conference accolades. His total of 603 points ranked ninth on the Illini all-time single-season scoring list. Hill impacted the game in all areas, standing second on the team in rebounding (5.1 rpg), ninth in the Big Ten in steals (1.2 spg), 10th in the league in free throw percentage (.784) and leading the Illini in total assists (102). Hill finishes his career as the Fighting Illini's No. 3 career leading scorer with 1,846 points.
Hill also earned the Ralf Woods Free Throw Trophy for the second year in a row. He connected on 80 percent from the line during conference play (76-95).
Fellow senior Tracy Abrams won two awards as well, led by the Lou Henson Courage Award for returning to the court after suffering back-to-back season ending injuries. Abrams ranked third on the team in scoring, averaging 8.6 points. He also showed tremendous improvement as a 3-point shooter, connecting on 40.2 percent from behind the arc to earn the Orange Krush 3-Point Shooting Award.
A third UI senior, Maverick Morgan, garnered the Matt Heldman "Matto" Award for the second consecutive season after producing the most hustle plays. Last year Morgan shared the Matto Award with Hill.
Sophomore Leron Black earned the Illini Rebounders Award after leading the team and ranking 15th in the Big Ten with 6.3 boards per contest.
2016-17 Fighting Illini Basketball Awards
Most Outstanding Player: Malcolm Hill
Matt Heldman "Matto" Award: Maverick Morgan
Lou Henson Courage Award: Tracy Abrams
Orange Krush 3-Point Shooting Award: Tracy Abrams, 40.2 percent (51-127, min. 3 att./g)
Illini Rebounders Award: Leron Black, 6.3 rpg (196)
Ralf Woods Free Throw Trophy: Malcolm Hill, 80 percent in Big Ten play (76-95)
Fighting Illini Senior Class: Tracy Abrams, Alex Austin, Malcolm Hill, Maverick Morgan, Jaylon Tate, Mike Thorne Jr