NCCU'S FUTRELL, MATTHEWS EARN STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS - NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

NCCU'S FUTRELL, MATTHEWS EARN STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Two-Sport Student-Athlete Fields Claims Chancellor's Award with Highest G.P.A.

NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms presents Kristan Fields with the Chancellor's Award as the student-athlete with the highest grade point average. (Photo by Kyle Serba)

April 16, 2008

PHOTO GALLERY

DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University senior volleyball outside hitter Shari Matthews and senior basketball forward Charles Futrell were recognized as the male and female student-athletes of the year with the presentation of the LeRoy T. Walker Medallion of Honor Wednesday night at the annual NCCU Athletic Awards Banquet inside McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium.

Matthews, a native of Bridgetown, Barbados, was a repeat selection to the All-State Team after leading the Eagles with 473 kills and 89 service aces, ranking fourth among Division I national leaders in service aces. In just two seasons at NCCU, Matthews broke the school record for career kills with 1,447 and career service aces with 229, while also collecting 860 digs and 139 blocks. As a junior, she became NCCU's first volleyball All-American and was selected as the 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball National Player of the Year.

Futrell, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., topped the Eagles in scoring (16.7 points per game), rebounding (7.3 rpg), blocked shots (27), steals (49), field goal percentage (48.4 percent), free throw percentage (71.0 percent), and was one of the nation's leaders in minutes played (37.1 mpg), to earn a spot on the Division I All-Independent Second Team. In just two seasons of basketball at NCCU, Futrell collected 731 points and 366 rebounds in 53 games, including 52 consecutive starts.

Junior Kristan Fields, a two-sport student-athlete in volleyball and softball from Fayetteville, N.C., received the Chancellor's Award as the student-athlete with the highest grade point average. She currently boasts a 3.94 grade point average as an elementary education major.

For the third year in a row, the men's tennis team earned the Faculty Athletic Council award as the team with the highest grade point average.

The team most valuable player awards were presented to Derrick Ray (football - defense), Will Scott (football - offense), Taylor Gray (football - special teams), Shari Matthews and Anielle DaSilva (women's volleyball), Brandon Jones and Rashaad Lee (men's cross country), Desinia Johnson (women's cross country), LaTia Blacknell (women's bowling), Charles Futrell and Bryan Ayala (men's basketball), Jennifer Hukill and Latoya Bennett (women's basketball), Christopher Davis (men's indoor track & field), Sophia Blue and Kristen Schooler (softball), Trey Chatman (men's tennis), Ambra Mason (women's tennis), Chris Winters (men's golf), Maurice Gailey (men's outdoor track & field), Lakisha Gantt (women's outdoor track & field), and Domonique Bines (cheerleading).

The team academic award winners were Desinia Johnson (women's cross country), Kristan Fields (women's volleyball), Jebria Buntyn (women's bowling), Derrick Ray (football), Tremain Holloway (men's basketball), Jennifer Hukill (women's basketball), Will Scott and Christopher Hall (men's indoor track & field), Ashley Cooke (women's indoor track & field), Desanbra Franklin (softball), Stephen Allsop (men's tennis), Ambra Mason (women's tennis), Maylon-James Fowler (men's golf), Daran Gill (men's outdoor track & field), Sheldonia Simmers (women's outdoor track & field), Kurt Wilson (baseball), and Camille Strachan (cheerleading).

In other special awards, Shirley Clinton was chosen as the Student Athletic Trainer of the Year, Sheldonia Simmers / Latisha Jones (track & field) and Derek Harvey (football) were presented with the Strength & Conditioning "All Day, Every Day" Award, while Sheresa Mills (basketball) and Robert Grant (baseball) received the Academic Support STARS (Students Taking Active Responsibility for Success) Awards.

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2007-08 NCCU Athletics Award Recipients

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Brandon Jones and Rashaad Lee, Men's Cross Country

Desinia Johnson, Women's Cross Country

Shari Matthews and Anielle DaSilva, Women's Volleyball

LaTia Blacknell, Women's Bowling

Derrick Ray, Football (Defense)

Will Scott, Football (Offense)

Taylor Gray, Football (Special Teams)

Christopher Davis, Men's Indoor Track & Field

Charles Futrell and Bryan Ayala, Men's Basketball