May 4, 2004
ATLANTA – Marvin Lewis was given the Georgia Tech basketball team’s “Excellence Award” signifying outstanding achievement both on the basketball court and in the classroom, at Friday night’s men’s basketball year-end banquet.
Nearly 250 people, including players, their families, Tech athletics officials and fans, gathered at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center to celebrate the Yellow Jackets’ season, which included a trip to the NCAA national championship game and a school record for victories in a 28-10 campaign.
Lewis, a senior from Germantown, Md., who received his bachelor’s degree in management and graduated with high honor on Saturday, finished his career fourth all-time at Tech in three-point field goals (239) and 18th in career points (1,396). He averaged 11.0 points as a senior as Tech’s third-leading scorer and topped the Jackets in three-point field goal percentage (39.8). He finished his academic career with Dean’s List honors in all but one term.
Also honored Friday night was junior guard B.J. Elder, a second-team all-ACC choice and an honorable mention all-America, as Tech’s top scorer (14.9 points per game). Junior forward Isma’il Muhammad, who averaged 9.3 points, shot 57 percent from the floor and won acclaim as being perhaps the nation’s most exciting player, won the Most Improved Player award. Senior forward Clarence Moore, who returned to the team this season after a year away and became its emotional leader, won the Michael Isenhour Inspirational award.
Junior forward Anthony McHenry won the Mr. Defense Award following a season in which he earned national acclaim for his efforts on that end of the floor. Junior center Luke Schenscher, who is back in Australia to try out for his country’s Olympic team, won the award as Tech’s top rebounder (6.6 per game last season). Junior guard Will Bynum, who made game-winning baskets in three of Tech’s NCAA Tournament wins, was named Mr. Clutch. Sophomore guard Jarrett Jack, already in the top 10 in career assists at Tech, was named Best Playmaker.
David Nelson, who also graduated with high honor Saturday in mechanical engineering, was honored as Tech’s top student-athlete.
