April 12, 2006

WINSTON-SALEM - Wake Forest distributed team awards and celebrated the careers of one of the most successful senior classes in Demon Deacon basketball history at the 2006 Awards Dinner at Forsyth Country Club Wednesday night.

Senior walk-on John Buck earned the prestigious Murray Greason Award. Senior forward Chris Ellis was named the team's Most Improved Player. Ellis was a consistent performer all season, averaging 5.6 points and 4.3 rebounds off the bench. He shot 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from three-point range and ranked tied for second on the team with 37 blocked shots.

Senior Justin Gray wrapped up a pair of individual awards - Best Free Throw Shooter and Team Assists Leader. Gray shot 83.4 percent from the free throw line and distributed a team-high 141 assists. Both statistics ranked among the ACC leaders.

Senior Trent Strickland earned Best Defensive Player. Strickland led the team with 15 charges drawn, he recorded 33 steals and blocked 11 shots. Senior center Eric Williams was named Best Rebounder. He led the team and ranked among the ACC leaders with 8.9 rebounds per game.

Much of the evening was spent recognizing the five-man Deacon senior class. Buck, Ellis, Gray, Strickland and Williams helped Wake Forest win 90 games over the past four seasons - the fifth-winningest senior class in Deacon history. The seniors were part of an ACC regular season championship, played in a Sweet 16 game and last season led Wake to its first No. 1 national ranking.

Murray Greason Award - John Buck

Most Improved Player - Chris Ellis

Most Valuable Player - Tony Hansen (team videographer)

Best Free Throw Shooter - Justin Gray

Team Assists Leader - Justin Gray

Best Rebounder - Eric Williams

Best Defensive Player - Trent Strickland