The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Men's Basketball Honored At 2005-06 Banquet
4/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 28, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Senior point guard Squeaky Johnson was named 2005-06 team MVP and he and the other six UAB men's basketball seniors were sent off in style Friday night at the 2005-06 team banquet. The Blazers finished the season 24-7 overall and 12-2 in Conference USA. UAB made its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006 and finished just one win shy of the school record for victories in a season.
"Great universities honor those who honor them," UAB provost Dr. Eli Capilouto said in remarks to the gathering of players, staff, family and friends of the men's basketball program. "We honor you for representing UAB both on and off the court."
Johnson headlined the awards for the evening, receiving team MVP, Outstanding Defensive Player and Assist Leader awards in addition to his Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference USA trophies. The New Orleans, La., native was also surprised by men's basketball program administrative assistant Judi Nichols who presented him with reproductions of his previous UAB awards lost in his family home in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina last fall.
Demario Eddins, who spent much of the season sideline with a torn Achilles tendon, was given the Blazer Award. Former UAB player Jeremy Bearden presented the Carlos Williams Award for attitude and dedication to the Blazer program to senior guard Richard Jones. Associate Athletic Director for Academic Affairs Judy Sackfield honored senior Derrick Broom with the 2005-06 Student-Athlete Award.
Other winners included Wen Mukubu (Ironman Award); Maurice Gibbs (UAB Sportsmanship Award); Brandon Tobias (Most Improved Player) and Paul Delaney (Sixth Man Award). Frank Holmes was recognized as the "Chairman of the Boards" for leading the team in rebounding. Marvett McDonald was honored for leading the team in scoring and free-throw percentage and given his second team All-Conference USA trophy as well.
Each member of the team and support staff and assistant coach Chris Giles also received their 2006 NCAA Tournament watches, traditionally given to participants in the postseason event, along with plaques commemorating the 2005-06 season.
Retiring broadcaster Gary Sanders served as emcee for the evening and was also recognized for his 27 years of service as the "Voice of the Blazers."
New UAB assistant head coach Donnie Marsh addressed the crowd, promising the new staff would work every day to continue the tradition of excellence established by the former staff and outgoing players. Head coach Mike Davis was out of town on the last weekend of off-campus recruiting in the spring signing period.
The Blazers bid farewell to outgoing seniors Johnson, Eddins, Tobias, Broom, Jones, McDonald and Reed Davis. Seven letterwinners return for 2006-07, the first year of the Mike Davis era at UAB.
