University Southern California Trojans
April 19, 2018 | USC Athletics, Men's Basketball, Trojan Athletic Fund, Features
LOS ANGELES – Chimezie Metu and Jordan McLaughlin were named the team MVPs and a total of seven players were honored with at least one award at the 2017-18 USC Men's Basketball Awards Banquet held at the Town & Gown on campus tonight (April 19).
The senior captain and point guard McLaughlin was a three-time winner, being named USC's co-MVP as a Sam Barry Award recipi- ent along with Chimezie Metu, as well as being named the Dr. James Zumberge Award winner as the player with the best grade-point average and the Forrest F. Twogood Award winner, as the team's best defensive player. McLaughlin closed out his spectacular USC career as the Trojans' all-time leader in minutes played (4,294), second in assists (738), third in steals (213), third in games played (128), fourth in scoring (1,648) and fifth in three-pointers made (185). McLaughlin is sixth on the Pac-12 career assist list and is one of three conference players to surpass 700 career assists and 1,600 career points, joining Gary Payton of Oregon State and Brevin Knight of Stanford. McLaughlin averaged 12.8 points, 7.8 assists and 2.0 steals during his senior season and was a Bob Cousy Award finalist for the nation's top point guard. McLaughlin was named to the 2018 All-Pac-12 First Team and to the Conference's All-Defensive Team.
The junior forward Metu received the Sam Barry Award as co-MVP along with McLaughlin and was also given the Bob Boyd Award as the team's top rebounder for the second consecutive season. Metu averaged a team-leading 15.7 points and 7.4 rebounds. He also led USC with 59 blocks and 111 free throws made. Metu finished his career ranked third on USC's all-time blocked shots list with 168 and 20th in scoring with 1,284 career points. Metu was named to the 2018 Pac-12 First Team and was named honorable mention on the All-Defensive team.
Senior guard Elijah Stewart was named the Ernie Holbrook Award winner as the team's most inspirational player. Stewart averaged 11.7 points and 3.0 rebounds, while leading USC with 70 three-point baskets. Stewart finished his career as USC's all-time leader in three-pointers made (245) and in games played (138).
Sophomore forward Nick Rakocevic was named the Harold Jones Award winner as the team's most improved player. Rakocevic played in all 36 games, making 22 starts, and finished averaging 8.1 points and 6.2 rebounds. In the NIT first-round win over UNC Asheville on March 13, he showed his potential with a career-high 24 points and 19 rebounds while narrowly missing out on becoming USC's first 20-20 double-double player since 1985 (Derrick Dowell).
Sophomore guard Jonah Mathews was given the Ryan Francis Scholarship Award as the best example of being a Trojan. Mathews averaged 9.3 points and 2.6 rebounds, while finishing second on the team with 58 three-pointers made. Mathews led USC by making 42.3 percent of his three-point attempts, which ranked sixth among Pac-12 players.
Redshirt sophomore guard Derryck Thornton earned the Bill Sharman Award as the Trojan with the best free throw percentage. Thornton made 85.2 percent of his free throw attempts (23 of 27). He began the season making his first 21 free throws, before missing his final attempt during the regular season finale vs. UCLA on March 3 (3-for-4). Thornton averaged 3.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 25 games.
Freshman guard Jordan Usher was selected as the John Rudometkin Award recipient for giving 110-percent effort. Usher averaged 4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds. He was one of four Trojans to play in all 36 games and he started the last two games of the season.
The following is a list of all of tonight's award winners:
USC Athletics would like to thank the following donors for their support of Trojan Basketball:
The senior captain and point guard McLaughlin was a three-time winner, being named USC's co-MVP as a Sam Barry Award recipi- ent along with Chimezie Metu, as well as being named the Dr. James Zumberge Award winner as the player with the best grade-point average and the Forrest F. Twogood Award winner, as the team's best defensive player. McLaughlin closed out his spectacular USC career as the Trojans' all-time leader in minutes played (4,294), second in assists (738), third in steals (213), third in games played (128), fourth in scoring (1,648) and fifth in three-pointers made (185). McLaughlin is sixth on the Pac-12 career assist list and is one of three conference players to surpass 700 career assists and 1,600 career points, joining Gary Payton of Oregon State and Brevin Knight of Stanford. McLaughlin averaged 12.8 points, 7.8 assists and 2.0 steals during his senior season and was a Bob Cousy Award finalist for the nation's top point guard. McLaughlin was named to the 2018 All-Pac-12 First Team and to the Conference's All-Defensive Team.
The junior forward Metu received the Sam Barry Award as co-MVP along with McLaughlin and was also given the Bob Boyd Award as the team's top rebounder for the second consecutive season. Metu averaged a team-leading 15.7 points and 7.4 rebounds. He also led USC with 59 blocks and 111 free throws made. Metu finished his career ranked third on USC's all-time blocked shots list with 168 and 20th in scoring with 1,284 career points. Metu was named to the 2018 Pac-12 First Team and was named honorable mention on the All-Defensive team.
Senior guard Elijah Stewart was named the Ernie Holbrook Award winner as the team's most inspirational player. Stewart averaged 11.7 points and 3.0 rebounds, while leading USC with 70 three-point baskets. Stewart finished his career as USC's all-time leader in three-pointers made (245) and in games played (138).
Sophomore forward Nick Rakocevic was named the Harold Jones Award winner as the team's most improved player. Rakocevic played in all 36 games, making 22 starts, and finished averaging 8.1 points and 6.2 rebounds. In the NIT first-round win over UNC Asheville on March 13, he showed his potential with a career-high 24 points and 19 rebounds while narrowly missing out on becoming USC's first 20-20 double-double player since 1985 (Derrick Dowell).
Sophomore guard Jonah Mathews was given the Ryan Francis Scholarship Award as the best example of being a Trojan. Mathews averaged 9.3 points and 2.6 rebounds, while finishing second on the team with 58 three-pointers made. Mathews led USC by making 42.3 percent of his three-point attempts, which ranked sixth among Pac-12 players.
Redshirt sophomore guard Derryck Thornton earned the Bill Sharman Award as the Trojan with the best free throw percentage. Thornton made 85.2 percent of his free throw attempts (23 of 27). He began the season making his first 21 free throws, before missing his final attempt during the regular season finale vs. UCLA on March 3 (3-for-4). Thornton averaged 3.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 25 games.
Freshman guard Jordan Usher was selected as the John Rudometkin Award recipient for giving 110-percent effort. Usher averaged 4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds. He was one of four Trojans to play in all 36 games and he started the last two games of the season.
The following is a list of all of tonight's award winners:
- Sam Barry Award (Most Valuable Player): Chimezie Metu & Jordan McLaughlin
- The Harold Jones Award (Most Improved): Nick Rakocevic
- Bob Boyd Award (Top Rebounder): Chimezie Metu
- Ryan Francis Scholarship Award (Example of Being a Trojan): Jonah Mathews
- Bill Sharman Award (Top FT Percentage): Derryck Thornton
- Forrest F. Twogood Award (Best Defensive Player): Jordan McLaughlin
- Dr. James Zumberge Award (Top GPA): Jordan McLaughlin
- John Rudometkin Award (110% Effort): Jordan Usher
- Ernie Holbrook Award (Most Inspirational): Elijah Stewart
USC Athletics would like to thank the following donors for their support of Trojan Basketball:
Patrons
Ralph and Sigrid Allman
The Angeloff Family
Lois and Ron Bloom
Yvonne Bogdanovich and Family
Sue Cimbaluk
Sue and Jim Femino
Richard Flores
Margee Harris
Sandy Kitchin
Grant and Jesus Nichol
Karen and Mark Tanimura
Ralph and Sigrid Allman
The Angeloff Family
Lois and Ron Bloom
Yvonne Bogdanovich and Family
Sue Cimbaluk
Sue and Jim Femino
Richard Flores
Margee Harris
Sandy Kitchin
Grant and Jesus Nichol
Karen and Mark Tanimura
Player Dinner Sponsors
Anonymous
Raymond Bates
Ann and Russell Bigler
Yvonne Bogdanovich and Family
Sue Cimbaluk
Cathy and Fred Crook
Richard Flores
Judy and Richard Gubler
Jim Linnan
Robin and Tom Maloof
Diana and Steve Marienhoff
Janis McEldowney
Mary and Michael Pashley
Karen and Mark Tanimura
Lois and Michael Valerio
Mary Jo and Louis Wong
Anonymous
Raymond Bates
Ann and Russell Bigler
Yvonne Bogdanovich and Family
Sue Cimbaluk
Cathy and Fred Crook
Richard Flores
Judy and Richard Gubler
Jim Linnan
Robin and Tom Maloof
Diana and Steve Marienhoff
Janis McEldowney
Mary and Michael Pashley
Karen and Mark Tanimura
Lois and Michael Valerio
Mary Jo and Louis Wong
Trophy Sponsors
Jo Jeanne and Dann Angeloff
Yvonne Bogdanovich Family
George Braden, on behalf of the Widney Family
Sue Cimbaluk
Fred and Cathy Crook
Tony Di Bernardo
Richard Dick
Richard and Judy Gubler
Mel and Doris Hughes
Judy Hunter
Jessup Cadillac-Chevrolet, 4 Generation Trojan Family
Janis B. McEldowney
Mike and Mary Pashley
John and Leslie Sapone
Jacqui Sloan
Karen and Mark Tanimura
Jo Jeanne and Dann Angeloff
Yvonne Bogdanovich Family
George Braden, on behalf of the Widney Family
Sue Cimbaluk
Fred and Cathy Crook
Tony Di Bernardo
Richard Dick
Richard and Judy Gubler
Mel and Doris Hughes
Judy Hunter
Jessup Cadillac-Chevrolet, 4 Generation Trojan Family
Janis B. McEldowney
Mike and Mary Pashley
John and Leslie Sapone
Jacqui Sloan
Karen and Mark Tanimura
Players Mentioned
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