NEWPORT NEWS, VA. – The 2011-12 Apprentice School basketball seasons officially concluded on Tuesday night at the annual Awards Banquet held at the Point Plaza Suites and Conference Hotel.
For the Lady Builders, finishing with a 23-4 record, four players earned team honors on Tuesday night. Sophomore Courtney Collins was named the Most Improved Player after a sophomore season where she earned U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association Honorable Mention All-American honors for the second year in a row. The Norfolk, Va. native and electrician apprentice, averaged 14 points per game and topped the team in scoring along with being third in field goal percentage, free throw percentage and rebounds. She scored in double figures in 19 of her 23 games played topped by a career-best 25 points and 12 rebounds at Penn State Brandywine.
Freshman Shanae Hilliard earned the Clutch Player award. The Alamogordo, NM native and molder apprentice, topped the team in field goal percentage and set a school single-season record for 3-point field goal percentage hitting 50% of her 3-point shots. She had a three-game stretch where she was 13-of-17 from the floor and 5-of-6 from 3-point range against eventual USCAA National Tournament participants Briarcliffe College, Berkeley College and Southern Virginia University. Hilliard had a pair of big 3-pointers in the second half of the home win over SVU en route to scoring a season best 17 points.
Senior LaTorya Grimes earned the Coaches Award for her consistent positive attitude and determination to return from a knee injury early in the year to play on Senior Day and in the USCAA Nationals. The Gloucester, VA native averaged five points and five rebounds per game in her career and had highs of 19 points against St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn as a sophomore and 18 rebounds at Methodist University as a freshman.
Earning the Builder Award was sophomore Christina Licano. A native of Las Cruces, N.M. and a welder apprentice, Licano had a season high 10 points on four occasions and dished out a season best eight assists against St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn. On the job she had a 92 shop grade and scores well in the classroom as a welder. The Builder Award encompasses action on the court as well as on the job and in the classroom.
On the men's side, senior Isaih Harrison was named the Most Valuable Player and was the winner of the Builder Award. The Abbeville, La. native and sheet metal apprentice, set nine career records and 12 single-season records in his final campaign that saw him average 20.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. He averaged a double-double for the second straight year. Harrison was named to the USCAA All-American team for the third straight year and also earned USCAA All-Tournament honors. He ended his career as the all-time leading rebounder (984) and second in career points (1748).
The offensive Most Valuable Player was fellow USCAA All-American Tevin Andrews. The Brundidge, Al. native and rigger apprentice, averaged 16.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He had a four-game spell this year where he averaged 31.2 points and almost 10 rebounds per game including a career-best 37 against Valor Christian. Andrews, who joined Harrison on the USCAA All-American team, also won a second piece of hardware at the USCAA National Tournament as he was named the Slam Dunk Champion in the pre-tournament skills contest.
Hampton, Va. native Terrance Palmer was named the Defensive MVP. Palmer, a coating specialist apprentice, always drew the top opposing guard on defense and played the versatile role of either guard spot or small forward. Scored a season best 10 points against Oakwood and dished out 61 assists to go with 27 steals.
The Spirit Award was given to freshman Zach Zastrow. A native of Newport News and a pipefitter apprentice (fill in from notes off of talking). Scored eight points against Virginia University of Lynchburg and was a team-best 87.5% from the foul line on the year.
Senior Joe Lyons was given the Coaches Award. A native of Colonial Heights, Va. and a machinist apprentice, he was a four-year point guard who never lost his positive attitude and approach to the basketball program. Lyons scored a season high eight points in his final collegiate game against Ave Maria University.
Freshman Johnnie Ferebee earned the Newcomer Award after a strong first season. The Norfolk native and rigger apprentice averaged nine points and four assists per game. He provided a strong option at the point where he could beat you off the dribble, find the open man or drain the 15-foot jumper. Ferebee scored in double figures in his first four collegiate starts and dished out nine assists against Virginia University of Lynchburg in his home debut.