April 10, 2016

SPRINGFIELD -- Junior Dequon Miller (G, Charleston, W.Va.) and senior Camyn Boone (F, Mesa, Ariz.) were the top award recipients Sunday (April 10) at the annual Missouri State University men's basketball awards banquet, held at University Plaza Hotel in Springfield. Miller was presented with the Coors Player of the Year Award, while Boone was selected as this year's Guy Thompson Award recipient.

The Coors Player of the Year Award is sponsored by Heart of America Beverage and carries with it a $1,500 scholarship to the Missouri State general scholarship fund in the name of the winner. Coors is also the title sponsor of the MSU Player of the Week honors. The weekly and yearly awards are selected by a panel of Missouri State media representatives.

Miller was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year -- just the fifth Bear to receive that honor -- and was an honorable mention All-MVC selection during his first season in Springfield. He led the Bears in scoring (12.7 points per game), 3-point shooting (57), assists (96) and minutes played (1,110). He ranked among the Valley's top 10 leaders in all four categories, was the league's seventh-best scorer (13.4) in conference games and was one of the nation's top 100 performers in minutes played per game (34.7).

The transfer from Motlow (Tenn.) College is the second straight junior transfer to earn the Coors Player of the Year after Boone won the award in 2014-15. Miller is the third-best returning scorer in the Missouri Valley Conference headed into next season.

The Guy Thompson Award is presented annually to the men's basketball senior player who demonstrates outstanding character, leadership, athleticism and academic success. The award is named in honor of the former MSU registrar and long-time basketball public address announcer.

Boone scored 647 points and snagged 371 rebounds in two seasons at MSU, earning 58 starts in 62 appearances for the Bears. He was MSU's second-best scorer this season behind Miller, posting 12.2 points per game, and led the Bears in rebounding in each of his two seasons. He also finished the 2015-16 campaign ranked third in the MVC in field goal percentage (.504) and fourth in rebounds (6.5).

Conference award winners Miller, Chris Kendrix (So., Willard, Mo.), Obediah Church (Fr., Springfield, Ill.), Jarred Dixon (Fr., Kansas City, Mo.) and Tyler McCullough (Jr., Fayetteville, Ark.) were also honored and presented certificates from the Missouri Valley Conference office. Kendrix was named to the MVC's Most-Improved Team this season, while Church and Dixon earned MVC All-Freshman Team laurels, and McCullough (second team) was honored as an MVC Scholar-Athlete Team recipient for the second year in a row. Miller, a five-time recipient, and Dixon, a one-time winner, were also presented certificates for their MVC Newcomer of the Week honors they earned during the season.

The MSU Coors Players of the Week were also recognized for their contributions this season as follows:

2015-16 Coors Players of the Week (Date, Opponents, Recipient)

• Nov. 8 Oral Roberts - Obediah Church
• Nov. 15 Butler, Minn. - Camyn Boone
• Nov. 22 Miss. State, Wm. Woods - Camyn Boone
• Nov. 29 Utah State, Okla. St. - Chris Kendrix
• Dec. 6 IUPUI - Camyn Boone
• Dec. 13 Tulsa, ORU, Valpo - Camyn Boone
• Dec. 20 SEMO - Jarred Dixon
• Dec. 27 Illinois St., Evansville - Dequon Miller
• Jan. 3 UNI, Loyola - Dequon Miller
• Jan. 10 Wichita St., Bradley - Obediah Church
• Jan. 17 Drake - Dequon Miller
• Jan. 24 SIU, Indiana St., Illinois St. - Jarred Dixon
• Jan. 31 Bradley, Evansville - Chris Kendrix
• Feb. 7 UNI, Indiana State - Chris Kendrix
• Feb. 14 Wichita State - Obediah Church
• Feb. 21 Loyola, Drake, Southern Ill. - Camyn Boone
• Feb. 28 MVC Tournament - Camyn Boone

Past Coors Players of the Year Recipients

• 1983 Ricky Johnson
• 1984 Chris Scott
• 1985 Brian Smith, Randy Stange
• 1986 Winston Garland
• 1987 Winston Garland
• 1988 Stan Worthy
• 1989 Hubert Henderson, Kelby Stuckey
• 1990 Lee Campbell
• 1991 Arnold Bernard
• 1992 Jackie Crawford
• 1993 Johnny Murdock
• 1994 Johnny Murdock
• 1995 Johnny Murdock
• 1996 Johnny Epps, Robert Wilkerson
• 1997 Danny Moore
• 1998 Kevin Ault, Ben Kandlbinder
• 1999 Danny Moore
• 2000 Kevin Ault, Allen Phillips
• 2001 Mike Wallace
• 2002 Scott Brakebill, Terrance McGee
• 2003 Terrance McGee
• 2004 Merrill Andrews
• 2005 Tamarr Maclin
• 2006 Blake Ahearn
• 2007 Blake Ahearn
• 2008 Dale Lamberth, Deven Mitchell
• 2009 Chris Cooks
• 2010 Adam Leonard
• 2011 Kyle Weems
• 2012 Kyle Weems
• 2013 Anthony Downing
• 2014 Jarmar Gulley
• 2015 Camyn Boone
• 2016 Dequon Miller

Past Guy Thompson Award Recipients

• 1969 Mert Bancroft
• 1971 Chuck Williams
• 1972 Bob Curl
• 1973 Eric Thompson
• 1974 Randy Magers
• 1976 Daryel Garrison
• 1978 Jimmie Dull
• 1980 Larry Lewis
• 1981 Ed Liliensiek
• 1982 Mark Lance
• 1983 Ricky Johnson
• 1984 Anthony Boggs
• 1985 Brian Smith
• 1986 Phil Schlegel
• 1987 Scott Hickox
• 1988 Stan Worthy
• 1989 Kelby Stuckey
• 1990 Chris Stange
• 1991 David Brewer
• 1992 Andre Rigsby
• 1993 Dale Ribble
• 1994 Tom Schellemans
• 1995 Clint Thomas
• 1996 Monte Marsh
• 1997 Coleco Buie
• 1998 Ben Kandlbinder
• 1999 Danny Moore
• 2000 Eric Judd
• 2001 Matt Rueter
• 2002 Scott Brakebill
• 2003 Jason Gilbert
• 2004 Monwell Randle
• 2005 Trevyor Fisher
• 2006 Kellen Easley
• 2007 Tyler Chaney
• 2008 Drew Richards
• 2009 Spencer Laurie
• 2010 Justin Fuehrmeyer
• 2011 Jermaine Mallett
• 2012 Isaiah Rhine
• 2013 Anthony Downing
• 2014 Keith Pickens
• 2015 Christian Kirk
• 2016 Camyn Boone