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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, April 15, 2005

Sensley voted 'Bows' top player

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Julian Sensley's all-around talent was rewarded last night at the annual awards banquet for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

Julian Sensley

Sensley won the top honor — the Art Woolaway Most Outstanding Player — at the awards banquet, which was held at the Hawai'i Prince Hotel.

"It's the highest honor a basketball player can get at the University of Hawai'i, so it has to mean a lot to whoever gets it," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "And there are some really big names on that trophy, so he's in good company."

Sensley, a 6-foot-9 junior forward, averaged 12.0 points per game, and led the team with 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

"It was voted by his teammates, so that means something, too," Wallace said. "It shows that they respected his game enough to give him the award."

The award is named after Art Woolaway, who died last August. He was an administrative assistant for the Hawai'i men's basketball program for more than 30 years.

Sensley also won an award for Top Rebounder.

Senior guard Jake Sottos won three awards, including the Captain's Award.

"That was voted by the players, too, so it shows how much they all liked and respected Jake," Wallace said.

Sottos started the season on the bench, but eventually became a starter and led the team with 66 3-pointers. He also won the awards for Most Improved Player and Top Free Throw Shooter.

Senior forward Jeff Blackett won the Ah Chew Goo Most Inspirational Player. He averaged 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game despite playing most of the season with a stress fracture in his foot.

Award winners

Art Woolaway Most Outstanding Player: Julian Sensley. Ah Chew Good Most Inspirational Player: Jeff Blackett. Most Improved Player: Jake Sottos. Community Service Award: Milos Zivanovic and Chris Botez. Captain's Award: Jake Sottos. Academic Award: Bobby Nash. Top Free Throw Shooter: Jake Sottos. Top Defensive Player: Chris Botez. Top Rebounder: Julian Sensley. Top Playmaker: Matt Gibson.



Thompson signs to play with 'Bows

Hiram Thompson signed an official national letter of intent last night to play for Hawai'i next season.

Thompson, a 6-4 point guard, averaged around 15 points and six assists per game as a senior at Oak Ridge High (Calif.) last season. Oak Ridge won the Division II state championship.

"It wasn't that hard of a decision because Hawai'i just felt like the right place for me," Thompson said.

Thompson's paternal grandparents reside in La'ie, and he has Hawaiian and Samoan ancestry.

"He likes to pass the ball first and he's a tough kid; he was the anchor of their defense in the game I saw him," Wallace said.

Hawai'i associate coach Jackson Wheeler compared Thompson to former UH point guard Mark Campbell.

"He's a pure point guard with good size and some quickness," said Wheeler, who was primarily responsible for recruiting Thompson.

Thompson made an oral commitment to play for Hawai'i last month, but said several schools were still trying to recruit him in recent weeks. Among the other schools interested were Boston University, Saint Mary's and Brigham Young.

The 'Bows have three more scholarships to offer during the "late" signing period, which ends May 18.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.