April 2, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas -- University of Texas senior guard A.J. Abrams is one of five finalists for the Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award, it was announced today. Abrams is joined on the list of finalists by: Jon Brockman (Washington), Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), Jason Holsinger (Evansville) and Brett Winkelman (North Dakota State).
The award honors a senior Division I men's player for demonstrating outstanding character, leadership and talent similar to the qualities evident in the 24-book Chip Hilton sports fiction series. The books, authored by the late coaching legend Claire Bee, enjoyed their first popularity in the late 1940s through the mid-1960s and were updated and re-released to a new generation of readers in 1999.
Abrams recently concluded his collegiate playing career as one of the most productive four-year players in school history. His 389 career three-pointers are a UT and Big 12 Conference record and rank 12th in NCAA Division I history. Abrams ranks third in NCAA Tournament history for most career three-pointers made (41). He also ranks third in school history and sixth in Big 12 history in career scoring (1,969 points).
Abrams set a UT and Big 12 record for most career games played (144) and broke the school record for career minutes played (4,673). He ranks third in school history in career free throw percentage (.864), sixth in field goals made (660), sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.399) and sixth in steals (179). Abrams holds the top three single-season marks for three-pointers made in UT history (120 in 2006-07, 118 in 2007-08 and 105 in 2008-09). He also set the UT career mark for most points scored in the NCAA Tournament (191 points in 12 contests).
The Chip Hilton Award will be presented by Chip Hilton Sports and the National Association of Basketball Coaches at the Final Four in Detroit on Saturday, April 5. Chip Hilton Sports began presenting the awards in 1997 as a way to honor outstanding excellence and character in college basketball during the season. The Selection Committee for the Chip Hilton Award includes: Dan Beebe, Jay Bilas, Dave Gavitt, Bob Hammel, Bob Knight, Pat Knight, Billy Packer, Dean Smith and Dick Vitale.
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