Men's Basketball's Harrell Named AAC Most Improved Player
March 12, 2014 | Men's Basketball
March 12, 2014
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville's Montrezl Harrell blossomed from a postseason sensation in 2013 into one of the Cardinals' consistently dominant performers. At the 2014 American Athletic Conference men's basketball awards luncheon on Wednesday in Memphis, Harrell was named the league's most improved player.
Under the tutelage of the Cardinals' coaching staff, the sophomore has improved his scoring by nine points per game from a season ago to 14.0, while more than doubling his rebounding from 3.6 boards to 8.3. Harrell also became more active on the defensive end, doubling his block total from 27 to 41 and picking up 15 more steals this season in nine less games.
The Tarboro, N.C., native has posted nine double-doubles this season, eight in his last 16 games, and has scored in double digits 24 times. While averaging a stellar 14.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, he has become well-known for his dunks in which he has totaled a single season school-record 84 on the year. Currently, he ranks first in The American (.612) and second in conference-only (.595) statistics in shooting percentage. His 8.6 rebounds against league competition is tops in the AAC.
In addition to the league award, Harrell has earned first team all-AAC honors, USBWA all-district accolades, and NABC second team all-district status.
2014 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Honors
Player of the Year
Shabazz Napier, G, UConn
Coach of the Year
Mick Cronin, Cincinnati
Rookie of the Year
Austin Nichols, F, Memphis
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Jimmy McDonnell, F, Temple
Defensive Player of the Year
Justin Jackson, F, Cincinnati
Sixth Man of the Year
Michael Dixon Jr., G, Memphis
Most Improved Player
Montrezl Harrell, F, Louisville
Sportsmanship Award
Sean Kilpatrick, G, Cincinnati
