April 15, 2007
Clemson, SC - The Clemson men's basketball team announced its 2006-07 awards winners at the annual year-ending banquet at the school's Madren Center on Sunday. The Tiger coaching staff handed out awards to the team's top performers and various support staff. Cliff Hammonds was the recipient of six awards, including the Paul Bowie Most Valuable Player Award, which he shared with sophomore K.C. Rivers. Rivers also earned the Tom Lynch Most Improved Award. Other player award winners on Sunday included Trevor Booker, Vernon Hamilton, James Mays, and Jesse Yanutola.
Paul Bowie Most Valuable Player Award
Cliff Hammonds (co-winner)
Ranked first on the team in minutes played (1,204), assists (147) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.49)
Ranked second on the team in three-point goals (75) and third in steals (60)
Ranked fourth on the team in points per game (11.6) and rebounds per game (3.3)
Became just the 15th junior in school history to reach 1,000 career points
K.C. Rivers (co-winner)
Clemson had a 24-5 overall record when he reached double figures in scoring
Led the Tigers in scoring at 14 points per game, despite only 10 starts
Reached double figures in 18 consecutive games off the bench, a Clemson record for a reserve in terms of double-figure scoring streaks
Hit 88 three-pointers, fourth-most in a single season in school history
Defensive Player of the Year Award - Spartanburg County Clemson Club
Cliff Hammonds
Ranked seventh in the ACC in steals per game (1.67)
Recorded two or more steals in 16 games as a junior
Tallied 10 charges taken, second-best on the team this season
Ranks sixth in Clemson history with 159 career steals
Tom Lynch Most Improved Award
K.C. Rivers
Improved his scoring average from 7.1 to 14.0 points per game as a sophomore
Increased his three-point shooting accuracy from 33.6 to 39.5 percent
Overall field goal shooting improved from 37.7 to 46.2 percent
Improved his assist-to-turnover ratio from 1.19 to 1.48
Road Warrior Award - Cherokee County Clemson Club
Vernon Hamilton
Led the Tigers in scoring with 14.8 points per game at road venues
Shot 53.7 percent in Clemson's 11 away games from his point guard position
Posted 21 points at Duke, N.C. State, and Wake Forest; also scored 19 in ACC road opener at Florida State, a Clemson victory
Academic Excellence Award - Fort Hill County Clemson Club
Jesse Yanutola
Named to Honor Roll in four of five semesters at Clemson
Member of the Calhoun Honors College
Majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Tiger Strength Award - Lexington Clemson Club
Cliff Hammonds
Played over 1,200 minutes this season, most on the team; averaged 35.9 minutes per game during the ACC regular season
Ranks among the top 15 in school history in career minutes played (3,123)
Strongest player on the team on a pound-for-pound basis
Mr. Effort Award - Aiken County Clemson Club
Cliff Hammonds
Led the team in minutes played for the third straight season
One of five players on the team to average double figures in scoring (11.6)
Ranked in the top 10 of the ACC in three-point goals per game, steals per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio
Received three IV bags of fluid following a grueling 37-minute effort at Florida State, which included the game-winning layup in the final seconds
Most Assists Award - Union County Clemson Club
Cliff Hammonds
Led the team this season with 147 assists
Ranked second in the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.49)
Posted five or more assists in 14 games
Ranks ninth in school history with 340 career assists
Field Goal Percentage Award - Greater Columbia Clemson Club
Trevor Booker
Led the team this season in field goal shooting at 60.2 percent (min. 4 made field goals per game)
His field goal percentage is the second-highest by a freshman in school history
Shot 50% or better from the floor in 27 of Clemson's 36 games
Totaled 44 dunks, most on the team
Free Throw Percentage Award - Greater Greenwood Clemson Club
K.C. Rivers
Led the team with a 73.5 percent accuracy (min. 1 made free throw per game)
Hit 82.4 percent of his free throws during the ACC regular season
Career 76.3 percent free throw shooter in two seasons
Leading Rebounder Award - Greenville Clemson Club
Trevor Booker and James Mays
Tied for the team lead with 6.4 rebounds per game
Booker ranked second in the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (3.11), while Mays ranked eighth (2.72)
The duo posted 11 of Clemson's 14 double figure rebound efforts this season
Mays collected 10 offensive rebounds at Maryland, tied for third-most in Clemson history for a single game
Air Force ROTC Aim High Award
(Presented to the player who best exhibits the core values of the Air Force, as demonstrated by his integrity, service before self, and excellence in all endeavors)
Cliff Hammonds
