DAYTON -- University of Dayton point guard
Jalen Crutcher has been named the Flyers' 2018-19 White-Allen Most Valuable Player. Crutcher was honored as part of the Flyer men's basketball team's awards banquet Wednesday night.
The two-year starter from Memphis, Tenn. finished the season second in the Atlantic 10 Conference in assists per game (5.7), and tied for second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1). Crutcher was one of two players in the A-10 in the league's top 10 in assists, assist-to-turnover ratio, minutes (8th, 36.5) 3-pt.; FG's per game (7th, 2.1) and 3-pt. FG% (9th, .363, 74-204). He was also third for Dayton in scoring this year (13.2).
Crutcher was named Third Team All-Atlantic 10 this season after being named to the A-10 All-Rookie team as a freshman last year. As the only true point guard on the team, there's no question no Dayton player had more responsibility on his shoulders this season than Crutcher.
He is the first Flyer sophomore to be named the team's outright MVP since Brian Roberts was named in 2006. Chris Wright shared the award as a sophomore with Marcus Johnson in 2009.
The White-Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy is sponsored by Tim White and White Allen Auto Group, Inc. The award is selected by members of the team. The White Allen Trophy has been awarded annually since 1953. White Allen now sponsors the MVP award for UD's men's and women's basketball, football and volleyball teams.
Obi Toppin was named the Chris Daniels Memorial Most Improved Player. After sitting out the 2017-18 season, Toppin burst on the scene as a redshirt freshman. Toppin led the team in scoring (14.4), FG% (.666, 201-302), 3-pt., FG% (524, 11-21) and blocked shots (28).
But Toppin did not just improve his skills from one season to the next. Playing in his first college season, the New York native got better the longer the season went. After conference play began in January, Toppin improved his scoring from 12.0 points per game in January, to 17.0 in February and 17.2 in March.
Toppin was the first UD player named the A-10 Rookie of the Year and was the first freshman named First Team All-Atlantic 10 since Lamar Odom was named in 1998-99. He was fourth in the nation in FG%, and his 83 dunks were second in Division I. He set Dayton freshman records for total points (475), scoring average, FG% and dunks. His field goal percentage was also the third-best overall single season mark.
The Daniels Award is presented in memory of Flyer center Chris Daniels. Originated in 1994-95 as the most improved player award, this award was renamed for Daniels following his death in 1996.
Trey Landers won the "Shorty" Sharpenter Memorial Rebounding Trophy as the team's top rebounder. Landers averaged 6.7 rebounds a game. The 6-foot-6 junior from Huber Heights played in 32 of the 34 games, starting 22, and also averaged 8.2 points per game.
The Sharpenter award is named for Hall of Famer Ned "Shorty" Sharpenter, and has been sponsored by his family since its inception in 1979.
Ryan Mikesell was the winner of the Alex Schoen Memorial Free Throw Trophy as UD's top free throw shooter. The Flyer redshirt junior forward made 60 of 74 free throws (81.1%). The St. Henry, Ohio native came back from double-hip surgeries that cost him the entire 2017-18 season to be one of four UD players to average double figures (10.1). He was also second on the team in blocked shots (20), and third in rebounding (5.3) and steals (24).
The Schoen Trophy is named in honor of Alex Schoen, Sr., the captain of UD's first varsity basketball team in 1903-04. Awarded since 1950, it is sponsored by Alex Schoen, Jr. It goes to the UD player with the highest FT% with a minimum of 50 free throws attempted.
Mikesell was also announced as the recipient of the Uhl Family Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to the UD player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship and character. It is named after and endowed by former Flyers Bill Uhl and Bill Uhl II.
Redshirt senior captain
Josh Cunningham winner of the James G. and Purcell S. Palmer Award. Cunningham, just the second three-time captain in Dayton basketball history, was second on the team in scoring (13.3), rebounding (6.2) and FG% (639, 156-244). His field goal percentage was also eighth in Division I, making UD the only school this season to have not just two players in the top 10, but in the top 25 in field goal percentage. Cunningham was a two-time Third Team All-Atlantic 10 selection. His .633 (367-574) career field goal percentage is the second-best ever at Dayton.
The Palmer Scholarship is given on behalf of the late Jim Palmer and his wife Purcell. Mr. Palmer was a former Flyer and NBA player. The award is presented to the Dayton player who best embodies his characteristics, on and off the court.
The team's other senior, guard
Jack Westerfield, was presented with the John L. Macbeth Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award for the second consecutive year. A walk-on, Westerfield saw action in nine games in 2018-19 and scored eight points.
The Macbeth Scholar-Athlete Award is presented in memory of Dayton businessman John L. Macbeth, and is sponsored by Mrs. John L. Macbeth and family. It has been awarded since 1959.
The newly-named Steve McElvene Best Defender Award was presented to freshman guard
Dwayne Cohill. Cohill was one of Cleveland's best-ever high school scorers, but he thrived in the role as UD's perimeter defensive stopper coming off the bench in 33 games.
The Best Defender Award was first presented in 1995, but it was named this year in the memory of Steve McElvene, who died suddenly at home in the spring of 2016 of an undetectable heart condition. In his only college basketball season, McElvene broke the Dayton single-season blocked shot record.
Jhery Matos was named the winner of the Thomas M. Luppe Award, which is awarded to the first-year player (or players) on the team who best demonstrates the courage, desire and integrity of former Flyer freshman Tom Luppe. Matos had his season cut short six games into the year due to an injury.
The Luppe Award honors Thomas M. Luppe, who died in 1963 while playing in a UD freshman game.
Sophomore
Camron Greer was named the winner of the Dr. George Rau Spirit Award, which is given annually to the player (or players) who display true team spirit, on and off the court. A walk-on from Country Club Hill, Ill., was chosen even though last year's winner,
Obi Toppin, is still on the team.
The Harry O'Rourke Insurance Agency sponsors the Rau Award, which was first presented after the long-time Flyer team physician's death in 1972.
The Flyers improved seven wins in
Anthony Grant's second season as the UD head coach, finishing 21-12 and reaching the NIT. Dayton was third in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a 13-5 record. The Flyers return three starters including All-A-10 performers
Obi Toppin (first team and Rookie of the Year) and
Jalen Crutcher (third team).
Dayton was second in the nation as a team in field goal percentage (.504, 902-1789). That was also the best single-season FG% in school history.
2018-19 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS
WHITE-ALLEN MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – JALEN CRUTCHER
ALEX SCHOEN FREE THROW PERCENTAGE – RYAN MIKESELL
JOHN L. MACBETH SCHOLAR-ATHLETE -- JACK WESTERFIELD
DR. GEORGE RAU SPIRIT AWARD – CAMRON GREER
"SHORTY" SHARPENTER TOP REBOUNDER – TREY LANDERS
CHRIS DANIELS MEMORIAL AWARD – OBI TOPPIN
THOMAS M. LUPPE MEMORIAL AWARD -- JHERY MATOS
STEVE McELVENE BEST DEFNDER AWARD -- DWAYNE COHILL
UHL FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP -- RYAN MIKESELL
JAMES G & PURCELL S. PALMER SCHOLARSHIP – JOSH CUNNINGHAM
