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April 13, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE – Travis Watson received the University of Virginia men’s basketball team’s Bill Gibson Cavalier of the Year Award for the 2002-03 season on Sunday (April 13). The award was presented at the 2003 Virginia men’s basketball banquet at the Doubletree Hotel.
Watson, a senior forward/center from Brookneal, Va., also received the award as the team’s leading rebounder. The 6-8 Watson led Virginia in scoring (444 points, 14.3 ppg.), rebounding (321 rebounds, 10.4 rpg.), steals (46, 1.5 spg.) and blocked shots (40, 1.3 bpg.) for the 2002-03 season. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounding, defensive rebounds (226, 7.3 pg.) and double-doubles (16), was second in the conference in field goal percentage (167-321, .520) and tied for second in offensive rebounds (95, 3.1 pg.).
Watson ranks second on Virginia’s career rebounds list (1,115), third on the blocked shots list (130), 10th on the field goals list (602) and 12th on the scoring list (1,546). He also ranks 14th on the ACC’s career rebounding list.
Watson was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2003, earned National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District Five first-team honors and was named to the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District Three Team. He was also a first-team selection to the Richmond Times-Dispatch All-State Team and a first-team selection to the Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State Team.
Senior center/forward and tri-captain Jason Rogers (Staunton, Va.) received the Michael McCann Leadership Award and the Mr. Consistency Award, and shared the Academic Achievement Award with junior guard Todd Billet (Middletown, N.J.). Billet also received the awards for best free throw percentage and for having the most assists. Sophomore forward Elton Brown (Newport News, Va.) received the Most Improved Player Award, sophomore guard Jermaine Harper (Gardena, Calif.) received the Sixth Man Award and sophomore forward Jason Clark (Virginia Beach, Va.) was honored as the Best Defensive Player. Sophomore guard/forward Devin Smith (New Castle, Del.) received the Best Attitude Award and freshman forward Derrick Byars (Memphis, Tenn.) received the Promising Prospect Award. Junior center Nick Vander Laan (Sacramento, Calif.) shared the Hardest Worker Award with junior guard and tri-captain Majestic Mapp (Harlem, N.Y.), and the Mr. Hustle Award with freshman guard Billy Campbell (Atlanta, Ga.).
Virginia finished the 2002-03 season with an overall record of 16-16 and advanced to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.