Just saw this via UCLA Athletic's twitter feed:
Darren Collison, a senior guard from UCLA, is the 2009 recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, presented annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the nation's outstanding senior male collegian 6'0" and under who has excelled both athletically and academically.
Darren Collison decided to go back to UCLA for his senior season and played well. He averaged 14.4 points, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Collison led the Pac-10 in free throw percentage, was third in assists, steals, and assists-to-turnover ratio, and was 14th in scoring. He was also named to the All-Pac-10 First Team. He finished his UCLA career with 1,639 points and 577 assists, for career averages of 11.5 points and 4 assists. The three time Bob Cousy Award Finalist has had a stellar career at UCLA. He has three Final Four appearances and played in the most NCAA Tournament games of any active player. Previous accomplishments include being named to the third team All-America, All-Pac-10 Defensive Team, and Most Outstanding Player of the Pac-10 Tournament. Collison becomes just the second Bruin to win the award (Tyus Edney, 1995).
"We are proud to honor Darren Collison with the 2009 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award", stated John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "The combination of his success on the court and his achievements in the classroom as a student-athlete make him a deserving recipient who exemplifies the qualities this award is designed to celebrate."
Read the full release here.
Can't say any better than what Coach Howland said above. We were blessed to have this kid represent blue and gold on and off the court for four magical years. DC will etched in Ben Ball lore forever.
Congrats to Collison from Bruins Nation.
GO BRUINS.