SPRINGFIELD -- Junior Alize Johnson (F, Williamsport, Pa.) and senior Tyler McCullough (C, Fayetteville, Ark.) were the top award recipients Sunday (April 9) at the annual Missouri State University men's basketball awards banquet, held at University Plaza Hotel in Springfield. Johnson was presented with the Coors Player of the Year Award, while McCullough 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.
 
Johnson earned MVC Newcomer of the Year and All-MVC first-team honors in his first season in Springfield while also being named to the MVC All-Tournament Team and NABC All-District Team. He was a two-time Valley Player of the Week and six-time Valley Newcomer of the Week in 2016-17.
 
The transfer from Frank Phillips (Texas) College led the conference in rebounding at 10.6 per game, which ranks 11th nationally. He also led MSU in scoring at 14.8 points per game while producing 17 double-doubles – the 15th-most in the nation -- with 21 double-figure rebounding games. He also finished with the second-highest season rebounding total of Missouri State's Division I era (351) while converting 48.8 percent of his field goals and 39 percent of his 3-point attempts. Johnson finished 11th nationally in rebounds per game and 13th in total rebounds.
 
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.
 
McCullough played in 107 games in his four-year career with the Bears. He started 32 games, collected 263 points, snagged 228 rebounds and blocked 73 shots. His career blocked shot total is tied for 10th on MSU's all-time list. McCullough was a three-time MVC Scholar-Athlete Team selection. He was also a 2015-16 nominee for the All-State NABC Good Works Team and was Missouri State's Student Public Affairs Award honoree in September 2014 after taking a humanitarian mission trip to Uganda.
 
Senior Jordan Martin (St. Louis, Mo.) was named as the Strength and Conditioning Staff Athlete of the Year at the banquet, while fellow senior Dequon Miller (Charleston, W.Va.) was also recognized for his career achievements. Miller ranked 51st nationally in minutes played this season and averaged 14.9 points per game in conference games his senior season, which was the sixth-best average in The Valley. Miller finished his career ranked 39th on MSU's career scoring list (825), 10th in 3-pointers (110) and 5th in minutes per game (35.1). He was the 2016 MVC Newcomer of the Year and was last year's MSU Coors Player of the Year.
 
Conference award winners Johnson, Obediah Church (So., Springfield, Ill.), Jarred Dixon (So., Kansas City, Mo.), Austin Ruder (Jr., Nixa, Mo.) and McCullough were also honored and presented certificates from the Missouri Valley Conference office. Church was named to the MVC All-Defensive Team, while Dixon earned a spot on the MVC All-Bench Team. Ruder (first team), and McCullough (second team) were honored on the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team. Johnson, a six-time recipient, was also presented certificates for his MVC Newcomer of the Week honors he earned during the season.
 
The MSU Coors Players of the Week were also recognized for their contributions this season as follows:
 
2016-17 Coors Players of the Week (Week of, Opponents, Recipient)
Nov. 6 - Alabama A&M ... Austin Ruder
Nov. 13 - Jacksonville St., Fontbone ... Alize Johnson
Nov. 20 - at DePaul ... Chris Kendrix
Nov. 27 - N.D. State, Air Force ... Jarred Dixon
Dec. 4 - at SEMO, Valparaiso ... Alize Johnson
Dec. 11 - Oral Roberts, SEMO ... Ryan Kreklow
Dec. 18 - Chicago St., USC, Vegas ... Alize Johnson
Dec. 25 - at UNI, Indiana St. ... Alize Johnson
Jan. 1 - at Illinois St., Southern Illinois ... Jarrid Rhodes
Jan. 8 - Evansville ... Dequon Miller
Jan. 15 - at Loyola, at Indiana St., Bradley ... Dequon Miller
Jan. 22 - Drake, at Southern Illinois ... Alize Johnson
Jan. 29 - Loyola, at Evansville ... Obediah Church
Feb. 5 - at Wichita State ... Chris Kendrix
Feb. 12 - UNI, Illinois St., at Drake ... Alize Johnson
Feb. 19 - at Bradley, Wichita St. ... Dequon Miller
Feb. 26 - MVC Tournament ... Alize Johnson
 
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
    2017 Alize Johnson
 
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
    2017 Tyler McCullough