Drexel University Athletics
Men’s Basketball Announces Postseason Team Awards
5/16/2023 3:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Williams Named Team MVP
PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel men's basketball program announced its annual award winners at its end of the year banquet at South Side in Philadelphia. This season, the award winners were presented in videos by former Drexel Basketball standouts.
Junior Amari Williams was named the winner of three awards after his outstanding season. Williams, who was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season, was named the Dragons' Most Valuable Player, the Drexel "D" Award winner and the "Sweep" Award winner as the team's top rebounder. Williams led the Dragons with 13.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and a CAA-high 67 rejections.
Williams, who came to Drexel from Nottingham, England, was presented the MVP Award by Samme Givens. A 2012 graduate who still plays professionally, Givens is one of only four Drexel players in the 1,000-point, 1,000-rebound club. Bob Stephens, who the "Sweep" Award is named for, presented Williams that award. Stephens is Drexel's all-time leader in blocks, is second in rebounds and had more than 1,600 career points. Williams received the Dragon "D" Award from Austin Williams. "Stretch", as he was known by teammates and fans, is sixth on Drexel's career shot blocking list with 143 and had 92 in his final season at Drexel in 2018.
Justin Moore was given the Assist Award. Moore, only a freshman, played high school ball at Archbishop Wood. The Philadelphia product led the Dragons with 77 assists in 25 games. Despite missing seven games due to an injury, Moore was also second on the team in scoring. Frantz Massenat presented Moore with the award. Massenat, who graduated in 2014, is fourth on Drexel's career assist list and is currently playing professionally in France.
Luke House was the winner of the Donald Shank Spirit & Dedication Award for the second year in a row. The former walk-on is one of the hardest workers on the team. House, a native of Norristown, Pa., played in every game in his junior year and averaged 8.7 points while shooting 38 percent from behind the arc. Mike Wisler presented House with the award. Wisler, a 1994 graduate, scored more than 1,000 points in his career and is third on Drexel's career 3-point percentage list at .403.
Yame Butler was named the Samuel D. Cozen Award as the most improved player. The first-year member of the Dragons from Greenbelt, Md., emerged as a key player down the stretch after limited minutes early in the year. Butler scored 20 or more points three times, including a 30-point performance which was the most points by a Drexel player in a game last season. Steve Starks presented Butler with the Cozen Award. Starks, a 2001 graduate, scored more than 1,000 career points in his Drexel career.
The Academic Award went to senior Mate Okros. The native of Hungary will return to Drexel for his fifth year of basketball in the fall. He has a 3.68 grade-point average and will graduate in June with a business degree. Okros has been accepted in Drexel's MBA program. He was presented the Academic Award by Matey Juric, who won the award in each of his four seasons at Drexel.
Drexel finished the 2022-23 season with a 17-15 overall record and a 10-8 mark in CAA play. The Dragons will return all but one letter winner for the 2023-24 season.
Junior Amari Williams was named the winner of three awards after his outstanding season. Williams, who was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season, was named the Dragons' Most Valuable Player, the Drexel "D" Award winner and the "Sweep" Award winner as the team's top rebounder. Williams led the Dragons with 13.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and a CAA-high 67 rejections.
Williams, who came to Drexel from Nottingham, England, was presented the MVP Award by Samme Givens. A 2012 graduate who still plays professionally, Givens is one of only four Drexel players in the 1,000-point, 1,000-rebound club. Bob Stephens, who the "Sweep" Award is named for, presented Williams that award. Stephens is Drexel's all-time leader in blocks, is second in rebounds and had more than 1,600 career points. Williams received the Dragon "D" Award from Austin Williams. "Stretch", as he was known by teammates and fans, is sixth on Drexel's career shot blocking list with 143 and had 92 in his final season at Drexel in 2018.
Justin Moore was given the Assist Award. Moore, only a freshman, played high school ball at Archbishop Wood. The Philadelphia product led the Dragons with 77 assists in 25 games. Despite missing seven games due to an injury, Moore was also second on the team in scoring. Frantz Massenat presented Moore with the award. Massenat, who graduated in 2014, is fourth on Drexel's career assist list and is currently playing professionally in France.
Luke House was the winner of the Donald Shank Spirit & Dedication Award for the second year in a row. The former walk-on is one of the hardest workers on the team. House, a native of Norristown, Pa., played in every game in his junior year and averaged 8.7 points while shooting 38 percent from behind the arc. Mike Wisler presented House with the award. Wisler, a 1994 graduate, scored more than 1,000 points in his career and is third on Drexel's career 3-point percentage list at .403.
Yame Butler was named the Samuel D. Cozen Award as the most improved player. The first-year member of the Dragons from Greenbelt, Md., emerged as a key player down the stretch after limited minutes early in the year. Butler scored 20 or more points three times, including a 30-point performance which was the most points by a Drexel player in a game last season. Steve Starks presented Butler with the Cozen Award. Starks, a 2001 graduate, scored more than 1,000 career points in his Drexel career.
The Academic Award went to senior Mate Okros. The native of Hungary will return to Drexel for his fifth year of basketball in the fall. He has a 3.68 grade-point average and will graduate in June with a business degree. Okros has been accepted in Drexel's MBA program. He was presented the Academic Award by Matey Juric, who won the award in each of his four seasons at Drexel.
Drexel finished the 2022-23 season with a 17-15 overall record and a 10-8 mark in CAA play. The Dragons will return all but one letter winner for the 2023-24 season.
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