April 12, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - In front of over 1,000 guests including families, boosters, alumni and fans, the University of Maryland men's basketball team honored its 2001 Final Four season with its annual awards banquet on Thursday evening. Highlighting the evening was the naming of Co-Players of the Year Juan Dixon (Baltimore, Md.) and Lonny Baxter (Silver Spring, Md.), both juniors who are expected to return next season for another run at the Terps' first national championship.

Conducted at the University's Inn and Conference Center, head coach Gary Williams and his staff paid tribute to the Terrapins' 25-11 finish with the first viewing of the team's 2001 highlight video, a dinner, individual awards presented to the season's outstanding accomplishments, and a Final Four awards presentation.

Dixon, also the recipient of the team's award honoring its best free throw shooter, led the team in scoring with 18.2 points per game, as well as in steals. In being named first team All-ACC, he became the first Terrapin player since Joe Smith in 1995 to earn the distinction in back-to-back seasons.

Baxter shared the honor with Dixon, with whom he has started for the Terps in each of the past two seasons. Baxter was second on the team with 15.6 points last season, and led Maryland with 7.9 rebounds per game. He was named the MVP of the NCAA West Regional after wins over Georgetown and Stanford, and was a second team All-ACC selection.

Sophomore Steve Blake (Miami Lakes, Fla.) earned the award for the most assists, after setting a school record with 248 assists in just his second college season. Junior reserve Danny Miller (Mt. Holly, N.J.) won the team's Sixth-Man Award for averaging 4.8 points and nearly 20 minutes per game this season, after handling a starting assignment all of his sophomore season.

Other honors included the presentation of senior awards to LaRon Cephas (Wilmington, Del.), Mike Mardesich (Boston, Mass.) and Terence Morris (Frederick, Md.) who each concluded their college careers in 2001.

Cephas concluded a five-year stint with the Terrapins and earned recognition with the team's Unsung Hero Award, honoring the player whose contributions often aren't recognized on the playing floor. Mardesich, who also earned the club's academic award, ended his Terp career with the distinction of having played in more games, 137, and more wins, 99, than any player in Maryland history. Morris, a three-time honorable mention All-American, played in 136 with 98 victories. He led the Terps with a 9.5-rebound average in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season and earned the Terps' top rebounding honor.

Maryland's 2001 awards presentations: