Texas Tech University Athletics
Ross Receives Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence
April 13, 2005 | Men's Basketball
April 13, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is proud to announce the third Annual Creamland Dairies Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence recipients.
The winners were announced in Albuquerque at an awards banquet held at the Albuquerque Marriott on Tuesday, April 12, 2005. The three female collegiate finalists for the award were Sandora Irvin, Texas Christian University; Kendra Wecker, Kansas State University and Dee-Dee Wheeler, University of Arizona. The men's finalists were Ronald Ross, Texas Tech University; Aaron Miles, University of Kansas and Spencer Nelson, Utah State.
This year's Creamland Dairies Men's Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence was awarded to Texas Tech's Ronald Ross. Ross has become the epitome of hard work and determination for the Red Raiders. The former walk-on garnered numerous awards this season including First Team All-Big 12, All Tournament Team for the Big 12 Tournament, Big 12 All-Improved Squad, Big 12 All-Defense Team, and was named to the Basketball Times All-America squad. Ronald was recently presented the Chip Hilton Award by the Basketball Hall of Fame and Chip Hilton Sports at the Final Four in St. Louis.
As a senior, Ronald averaged 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in his senior season leading Texas Tech to a 22-11 record and the Red Raiders appearance in the "Sweet Sixteen." He established school records for steals in a single season (86); career steals (204), and played in 132 games during his Red Raider career - the most ever by a Tech player.
The star player from Hobbs, New Mexico returns as an award finalist. In high school, he helped lead the Hobbs High Eagles to three state championships. At Texas Tech, Ross was on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for four years, provided basketball clinics to elementary and middle school students, and visited area hospitals and schools. He will graduate in May with a degree in Human Development & Family Services.
This year's Creamland Dairies Women's Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence was awarded to TCU's Sandora Irvin. Irvin led the Texas Christian University Lady Horned Frogs to the NCAA Tournament in each of her four years on the team. During the 2004-2005 season, Sandora broke the NCAA career blocks record which stood for 14 years and the NCAA single game record with 16 blocked shots against Alabama-Birmingham. She finished the season with a total of 150 blocks, two short of the NCAA single season record. Irvin finished the 2004-05 season averaging 19.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.5 blocked shots, 2.1 assists and 2.5 steals. Irvin was also named to the All-America First Team by the Associated Press. She has been a four-year member of the Character Counts program, involved with the TCU Athletics Reading Frogs program and has made numerous visits to Cooks Children's Hospital. Irvin is a double major in marketing and management and hopes to pursue a career in sport marketing when her basketball career concludes.
For the first time in 2005, Albuquerque area high schools were given the opportunity to nominate student athletes for the award. The high school finalists were Lorie Montoya, Temple Baptist; Sara Rondeau, St. Pius; Nicole Tatum, Rio Rancho; Roman Andrade, Cibola; Tyker Baker, Temple Baptist and Daniel Faris, Eldora
This year's Creamland Dairies Women's High School Basketball Award of Excellence was awarded to St. Pius's Sara Rondeau. Rondeau was a starter for the Sartan basketball team that reached the semi-finals of the state tournament. She averaged more than 12 points per game and also dished out nearly five assists per game. She was also a tenacious defender and averaged more than two steals per game. Rondeau has participated in tsunami relief efforts to raise money for victims and their families and has served as a volunteer basketball coach for young girls in summer basketball programs.
This year's Creamland Dairies Men's High School Basketball Award of Excellence was awarded to Cibola's Roman Andrade. Averaging nearly 19 points per game for the Cougars, Andrade was one of the big reasons Cibola reached the state semifinals. He also averaged more than four rebounds, nearly six assists and one blocked shot per game from his guard spot. Andrade is an outstanding student and also provided communion service for those who cannot leave home as a result of debilitating illnesses. He has also been active in working with youth basketball throughout Bernalillo County.
"We are honored to present this award to such outstanding student-athletes," said Dale Lockett, ACVB President/CEO. "It was a tough process of elimination because of the number of deserving student-athletes. But these individuals are truly representative of the excellence on and off the court we were looking for when we created this award."
The Creamland Dairies Basketball Awards of Excellence honors college and high school seniors for their athletic and academic achievement, as well as their community involvement. The award, in its third year, was first presented in Albuquerque after the 2002-2003 basketball season.
Every NCAA Division I school had the opportunity to nominate their men and women student-athletes who are competing in their senior year. Last year's winners were Nicole Ohlde of Kansas State University and Adam Mark of Belmont University.
The 2003 winners were Tiffany Kyser of Indiana University - Purdue University, Indianapolis and Matt Bonner from University of Florida.
Citadel Communications Sports Radio 610 The Sports Animal and News Radio 770 KKOB were official media sponsors of the award.
