The Kansas men’s basketball team, as one might expect, received plenty of love Sunday night at the annual Rock Chalk Choice Awards at the Lied Center.
In addition to celebrating the academic and athletic achievements of the past year, along with highlighting some of the top individual plays and team moments — the volleyball team’s victory over USC in the Elite Eight in San Diego won “Moment of the Year” — several athletes received a variety of honors as well.
This year’s celebration featured a “So We Think We Can Dance” theme and mixed highlights, moments of comedy, performances from the Rock Chalk Dancers and other memorable moments into the presentation of various awards.
Two of the individual awards came from the men’s basketball team. Here’s a look:
**• Guard Devonte’ Graham picked up the first award of the night, The Jayhawker Award,** given annually to honor the pioneers who held true to their values throughout hardship while founding the state of Kansas.
**• Perry Ellis, a model student-athlete on and off the court, won Male Athlete of the Year** honors and current KU guard Tyler Self accepted the award on Ellis’ behalf. Ellis, who led the Jayhawks in scoring and also helped lead the team to its 12th consecutive Big 12 title, was one of five male athletes nominated for the honor.
The event has been billed an Academy Awards-esque celebration of the seasons that were in Kansas Athletics and the evening inspires several athletes to come dressed to the nines as if they truly were hitting the red carpet in Hollywood.
.@KUHoops rolling deep at the #RCCA16 pic.twitter.com/TS1ZEF6UH6
— KU Leads (@KU_LEADS) September 11, 2016