DAYTON –Toumani Camara and DaRon Holmes II were named the University of Dayton men's basketball team's White Allen Co-Most Valuable Players Tuesday evening for the second times in their careers.   Camara and Holmes, along with their teammates, were recognized at a private awards banquet. 

Camara was named First Team All-Atlantic 10 as well as to the A-10 All-Defensive Team in 2022-23.  He led UD in rebounding (8.6) and steals (1.2), and was second in scoring (13.9), minutes (29.6), FG% (.546, 178-326) and blocked shots (28).  The fourth-year player from Brussels, Belgium led the A-10 in rebounding and was the only player in the league in the top 20 in both steals and blocked shots.

Camara was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team in March, and set a tournament record by making 12 of 13 shots (92.3% FG%) against Fordham in the tournament semifinals.

Holmes was also First Team All-Atlantic 10, and named to the A-10 All-Defensive Team for the second year in a row.  During the regular season, the sophomore  from Goodyear, Ariz. led the Flyers in scoring (18.4), blocked shots (1.94), minutes played (34.2) and FG% (.590, 230-390).  He was second on the team in rebounding (8.1) and steals (25).

He led the Atlantic 10 in blocked shots, was third in rebounding and field goal percentage and fourth in scoring.  He was the only player in the top five for four different statistical categories in the A-10.  Holmes is also second in the A-10 in blocked shots.  Nationally, Holmes had the most dunks in Division I during the regular season (89).  

Holmes was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship after averaging 21.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots in the tournament.  During the season, he became the first true sophomore in UD men's basketball to reach 1,000 points in his career.  He is now already 43rd in Flyer career scoring with 1,073 points.  

Camara and Holmes were also co-MVPs in 2021-22, sharing the honor with Malachi Smith.

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.  

Camara and Holmes were also the co-winners of the Chris Daniels Memorial Most Improved Player Award.  They combined to increase their scoring averages by 8.5 points and rebounding by 3.7.  

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.  

As the team's top rebounder, Camara won the "Shorty" Sharpenter Memorial Rebounding Trophy for the second straight year.   He is the 12th player to earn the rebounding trophy more than once, and the first since Dyshawn Pierre in 2016.  The Sharpenter award is named for Hall of Famer Ned "Shorty" Sharpenter, and has been sponsored by his family since its inception in 1979.  

Camara was also a repeat winner of the James G. and Purcell S. Palmer Scholarship.  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.  Camara is the second two-time winner of the Palmer Scholarship, following in the footsteps of Ryan Mikesell in 2018.

In addition, Camara earned the Steve McElvene Award as the team's top defender.  The Best Defender Award was first presented in 1995, but it was renamed in 2019 to honor the memory of Steve McElvene, who died suddenly at home in the spring of 2016 of an undetectable heart condition.  

Brady Uhl was named the recipient of the John L. Macbeth Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award.  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.  

Zimi Nwokeji was the winner of the Uhl Family Endowed Scholarship.  The Uhl 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.  

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, was shared by three players who also shared similar experiences this season.  Koby Brea, Kobe Elvis and Malachi Smith all missed significant time due to injuries in 2022-23.  Between them, there were out 36 games, plus much more practice time.  Despite their injuries, they devoted their energies to remain engaged with the team on the bench and at practice.  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.

Mustapha Amzil was the winner of the Alex Schoen Memorial Free Throw Trophy, which goes to UD's top free throw shooter.  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.  Amzil shot .795 from the line in 2022-23 (66-83).

Two players – Mike Sharavjamts and Atticus Schuler – were co-winners 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.  The Luppe Award honors Thomas M. Luppe, who died in 1963 while playing in a UD freshman game.  

Dayton was 22-12 in 2022-23, with second-place finishes in the Atlantic 10 in both the regular season and post-season tournament.  

2022-23 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS

• WHITE-ALLEN MOST VALUABLE PLAYER –TOUMANI CAMARA & DaRON HOLMES II 
• ALEX SCHOEN FREE THROW PERCENTAGE – MUSTAPHA AMZIL 
• JOHN L. MACBETH SCHOLAR-ATHLETE – BRADY UHL
• DR. GEORGE RAU SPIRIT AWARD – KOBY BREA, KOBE ELVIS & MALACHI SMITH
• "SHORTY" SHARPENTER TOP REBOUNDER – TOUMANI CAMARA
• CHRIS DANIELS MEMORIAL AWARD – TOMANI CAMARA & DaRON HOLMES II 
• THOMAS M. LUPPE MEMORIAL AWARD – MIKE SHARAVJAMTS & ATTICUS SCHULER
• STEVE McELVENE BEST DEFENDER AWARD – TOUMANI CAMARA
• UHL FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP – ZIMI NWOKEJI
• JAMES G. & PURCELL S. PALMER SCHOLARSHIP – TOUMANI CAMARA