Senior forward Anye Turner won four awards at the Vikings men’s basketball team banquet, including Most Valuable Player of the team.
The Vikings held their annual banquet to recognize players for their success during the season on Sunday, May 17, at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club. Turner won Rebounder of the Year, the Price Visser Rebounding Award and Stat Player of the Year on top of his MVP.
After a successful season, Turner was voted as a first team Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Star after posting 10 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and a steal per game while averaging 25 minutes per game.
That stat line helped him win the Stat Player of the Year, and he led the team in rebounds, blocks and steals.
Turner said all of these awards were very flattering, but the MVP meant the most to him.
“It definitely feels good,” Turner said. “Especially because the MVP was voted on by the team.”
Getting MVP was flattering to Turner because his teammates thought he deserved it, he said. Turner ranks favorable in Western basketball history in a number of stat categories despite spending one season of eligibility at South Sound Community College. He is third all-time in blocks with 166 and 12th in career rebounds with 530.
The Vikings finished the season 20-11 after losing to Seattle Pacific University in the GNAC Championship game on March 7.
Turner, who is graduating next year, plans on being part of the team as a student coach next season.
“I definitely want to continue playing for fun,” Turner said. “But I want to be part of the team and coaching is a way to do that.”
Other winners at the banquet included redshirt freshman Evan Scholten for most improved player and practice player, senior Mark Hopkins for the Rich Baxter Hustle Award, Harris Javier Joe Morse Most Inspirational Award, Jeffrey Parker for the Chuck Randall Coaches Award and Trey Dreschel for the Fred Lewis Memorial Scholar Athlete of the year.
