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April 29, 2000
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Donald Hand and Chris Williams were honored asco-recipients of the University of Virginia men’s basketball team’s BillGibson Cavalier of the Year Award for the 1999-2000 season on Saturday(April 29). The players were honored at the 2000 Virginia men’sbasketballbanquet at the Omni Hotel. It’s the second consecutive year Hand andWilliams have shared the award.
Hand, a junior guard and team co-captain from Paterson, N.J.,alsoreceived the award for the most assists. He had 133 assists (4.3 apg.)andranked fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in that category. He alsoled the team in three-point field goals (51), free throws made (137) andfree throws attempted (183). Hand was second on the team in scoring(15.0ppg.) and minutes played (30.7 mpg.), and third in steals (38). Hecurrently ranks sixth on Virginia’s career list for three-point fieldgoalsmade (119), eighth on UVa’s career assists list (355) and 30th on theCavaliers’ career scoring list (1,122).
Hand was a second-team All-ACC selection, was named to theAll-Tournament team at the Puerto Rico Shootout and was named the ACCCo-Player of the Week after helping lead the Cavaliers to wins overVirginia Tech (Jan. 24), Florida State (Jan. 26) and Wake Forest (Jan.30).
Williams, a sophomore forward from Birmingham, Ala., displayedhisversatility during the 1999-2000 season by leading Virginia in scoring(15.5 ppg.), steals (51) and minutes played (32.3 mpg.), finishingsecondin rebounding (6.1 rpg.), three-point field goal percentage (34-93, 36.6percent), blocked shots (20), free throws made (99) and free throwsattempted (142), and ranking third on the team in field goal percentage(173-341, 50.7 percent) and assists (60). He finished the season rankedfourth in the ACC in field goal percentage, tied for seventh in stealsandtenth in scoring.
Williams was a second-team All-ACC selection, an All-Seaboardselection by Basketball Times and was named the ACC Player of the Weekforhis performance in Virginia’s victories over Belmont (Dec. 28) andDartmouth (Jan. 2).
Freshman guard Roger Mason, Jr., (Silver Spring, Md.) receivedtheMichael McCann Leadership Award, senior forward and team co-captainWillieDersch (Floral Park, N.Y.) received the Mr. Hustle Award, sophomoreguard/forward Adam Hall (Katy, Texas) was honored as the team’s BestDefensive Player, junior guard Josh Hare (Vernon, Conn.) received theMr. Intensity Award and junior forward Stephane Dondon (Toulouse, France)washonored as the team’s Most Improved Player. Freshman guard Majestic Mapp(Bronx, N.Y.) received the Fireman Award, red-shirt juniorcenter/forwardColin Ducharme (Richmond, Va.) and Stephane Dondon shared the HardestWorker Award, and Ducharme was honored with the Academic AchievementAward.
Freshman center/forward Jason Rogers (Staunton, Va.) received the BestAttitude Award, freshman forward/center Travis Watson (Brookneal, Va.)washonored as the team’s leading rebounder (258, 8.3 rpg.) and junior guardKeith Friel (Durham, N.H.) received the award for the best free throwpercentage (90.0 percent, 27-30).
Virginia completed the 1999-2000 season with an overall recordof19-12, finished tied for third in the ACC regular-season standings witha9-7 record and participated in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).