Friday, April 6, 2001

RAYFORD NAMED TEAM MVP AT BLUE HOSE
MEN’S BASKETBALL ANNUAL BANQUET

CLINTON, S.C. — Presbyterian College’s Chuck Rayford (Greenville, SC) was honored as the men’s basketball team’s Most Valuable Player at the program’s annual banquet held Friday night.

Rayford, a 6-0, 170-pound sophomore guard, earned first team All-South Atlantic Conference (SAC) and Daktronics All-South Atlantic Region second team honors after leading the team in scoring (16.7). Rayford also was named Pepsi/SAC Player of the Week once during the season. Rayford ranked in several statistical categories in the league including third in scoring, sixth in made three-pointers per game (1.79), seventh in assists (3.1) and steals (1.55), eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.03:1), ninth in three-point field goal percentage (36.9%), and 13th in free throw percentage (68.6%).

Blue Hose head coach Gregg Nibert cited 13 players as letterwinners for the 2000-01 season.  Presbyterian compiled a 19-10 record including a 10-4 ledger in the South Atlantic Conference, good for a third place finish. In addition, the Blue Hose finished runnerup for the Food Lion/SAC Tournament title, losing to Catawba College in the finals. Other Blue Hose award winners included:

• Team MVP: Chuck Rayford
• Assist Award: Kevin Campbell
• Best Defensive Player: Jeff Whittle
• Captains Award: Kevin Campbell, D.J. Humphries
• Best Free Throw Percentage Award: Kevin Campbell
• Scotsman Club Achievement Award: D.J. Humphries
• Blue Heart Award: Andrew Dellinger
• Highest GPA Award: Drew Brannon
• Most Improved Player Award: Rod Isom
• Rebounding Award: Rod Isom
• Sixth Man Award: Curtis Stamps

Brannon (Knoxville, TN), a 6-2, 177-pound guard, averaged 0.6 points and 0.2 rebounds while playing in 18 games this season. In the classroom, Brannon carries a 3.69 GPA.

Campbell (Piedmont, SC), a 6-2, 180-pound senior guard, finished third on the team in assists (2.1) while playing in and starting all 29 games. Campbell averaged 6.7 points, 1.9 rebounds while shooting 42.3% from the field, 40.6% from three-point range, and 84.4% free throw percentage. Campbell ranked in several statistical categories in the league including third in three-point field goal percentage and 10th in made three-pointers per game (1.41).

He finished his career in a Blue Hose uniform ranking second in program history in made three-pointers (169), first in three-point field goals attempted (458), eighth in career steals (84), and tied for fifth in career assists (310). In addition, his career free throw percentage (77.7%) ranks fourth-best in program modern day history. Campbell also finished seventh in SAC history in made three-point field goals.

Dellinger (Mauertown, VA) a 5-11, 155-pound freshman guard, played in all 29 games this season. He averaged 3.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.44 assists while shooting 49.3% from the field, 42.9% from three-point range, and 87.0% from the free throw line, which led the team.

Humphries (Union, SC), a 6-6, 200-pound forward/center, earned second team All-SAC and Daktronics All-Region honors after finishing second on the team in rebounds (6.9) and scoring (11.6). He shot 46.5% from the field and 61.5% from the free throw line while playing in 29 games with 28 starting assignments. Humphries ranked in several statistical categories in the league including third in rebounds, fifth in offense rebounds (2.69) and defensive rebounds (4.24), 13th in points, and 15th in field goal pecentage and steals (1.10).

He finished his career in a Blue Hose uniform ranking seventh in program history in rebounds (792), fourth in made free throws (309), ninth in made field goals (477), and 11th in career points (1,263). Humphries also finished second in SAC career history in offensive rebounds (256), free throws attempted (500), third in rebounds, and eighth in made free throws. In addition, he surpassed the 1,000-point plateau this season, marking the 11th player to reach this milestone under Nibert’s tenure.

Isom (Anderson, SC), a 6-7, 225-pound forward/center, played in and started all 29 games this season. Isom had a breakout season, leading the team and the SAC in field goal percentage (62.5%). He averaged 9.1 points, 7.0 rebounds while shooting 63.5% from the free throw line. In addition, Isom ranked in several statistical categories in the league including second in rebounds, third in defensive rebounds (4.52), seventh in offensive rebounds (2.48), and 23rd in scoring. Isom was also named to the Food Lion/SAC All-Tournament team this past season.

Stamps (Marion, SC), a 6-3, 200-pound sophomore guard/forward, played in all 29 games with one starting assignment. Stamps averaged 4.8 points, 3.2 rebounds coming off the bench while shooting 62.0% from the field and 45.5% from the free throw line.

Whittle (Strasburg, VA), a 6-5, 195-pound forward, played in and started all 29 games this season. Whittle led the team in made three-pointers (46) while finishing third in three-point field goal percentage (37.7%). He averaged 7.7 points, 2.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds while shooting 40.3% from the field and 66.7% from the free throw line. Whittle ranked in two statistical categories in the league including seventh in three-point field goal percentage and ninth in made three-pointers.