Mitchell Named Team MVP at RU Awards Dinner
Apr 10 | Men's Basketball
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (April 10, 2011) – Redshirt senior forward Jonathan Mitchell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) received the Team MVP Award Presented by Abe Suydam at the annual Rutgers Awards Dinner, held Sunday evening at the Hyatt Regency. Among the BIG EAST leaders in scoring, free throw percentage and three point field goal percentage, Mitchell averaged 15.3 points-per-game in conference contests and provided college basketball the most dramatic finish of the regular season with his game winning four point play versus No. 9 Villanova.
Senior guard Mike Coburn (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) was the recipient of the Frank Hill Award, presented annually to the individual exemplifies the characteristics of loyalty and leadership. The lone four-year player letterwinner, he competed in 127 career games in Scarlet, scoring 866 points and logging 3,177 minutes. Coburn concluded his career ranked fifth all time in assists (367) and 19th in steals (109).
Freshman forward Gilvydas Biruta (Jonava, Lithuania) received the Outstanding Newcomer Award. He was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie team after leading all conference newcomers in field goal percentage, rebounding and free throw percentage. Biruta started 31 games and averaged 10 points per game in league contests. He scored in double figures 19 times and had a pair of double-doubles.
Junior guard Mike Kuhn (Oceanport, N.J.) earned the George Mackaronis Scholar-Athlete Award as the team's top scholar-athlete. A finance major in the school of business, he has a 3.3 cumulative grade point average and has been previously honored on the BIG EAST All-Academic Team. Sophomore center Austin Johnson (Elkins Park, Pa.) was the recipient of the Kevin Collins Most Improved Scholar-Athlete Award.
Senior guard James Beatty (Wilmington, N.C.) captured Most Improved Player honors and sophomore wing Dane Miller (Rochester, N.Y.) received the Alton Adler Best Defensive Player award. Beatty was among the BIG EAST leaders in steals, three point field goals and assist-to-turnover ratio and was the team leader in plus-minus. Miller scored in double figures 17 times and ranked 8th in the BIG EAST in blocks.
Head student managers Dave Fedor and Dave Kenah were honored for their dedication and service on behalf of the program.
Rutgers radio play-by-play announcer and New York Metropolitan sports personality Chris Carlin served as emcee of the dinner, which featured a pre-dinner reception, highlight videos, letter presentations and the bestowment of awards.
