Michigan State Basketball Hands Out Awards At Annual Bust

March 13, 2000

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State Men's Basketball Bust was held Monday evening at the Holiday Inn South in Lansing, Mich. Michigan State senior co-captains Mateen Cleaves (Flint, Mich.) and Morris Peterson (Flint, Mich.) split most valuable player honors as voted on by both the team and the media. By splitting the team vote, Cleaves and Peterson will share the Chicago Tribune Award, while the media awards the Charles S. Phillips Award. Cleaves was the sole recipient of both awards in 1998 and 1999.

In 20 games this season, Cleaves is averaging 11.5 points and 7.6 assists. He was named first-team All-Big Ten and earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Tournament team. Peterson is leading the team in scoring with 16.7 points per game and rebounding at 6.3 boards per contest. He was selected Big Ten Player of the Year by the league's coaches and was named Most Outstanding Player at the Big Ten Tournament.

Peterson and Cleaves also picked up a few other awards on the evening. Peterson was the recipient of the Chairman of the Boards Award, given to the team's leading rebounder. Cleaves also earned the Inspiration Award, which was given to Antonio Smith in 1999. This year also marked the first year for the Antonio Smith Glue and Guts Award, which was presented to Cleaves.

For the third-consecutive season, Charlie Bell (Flint, Mich.) was awarded the Best Defensive Player Award. Bell won the award outright in 1999, after sharing it with Cleaves and Antonio Smith in 1998. Bell ranks second on the team with 40 steals. This year, Bell shared the Most Improved Player Award with A.J. Granger (Findlay, Ohio). Bell is averaging 12.3 points per game, second best on the team. Granger is averaging 9.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. Over the last 12 games he is averaging 10.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. Granger was also the recipient of the Scholar-Athlete Award. Granger will graduate in May with a degree in marketing.

For the second-straight season, Andre Hutson (Trotwood, Ohio) was voted to receive the Unsung Player Award, sharing the award with Granger. Hutson is averaging 10.0 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 58% from the floor.

The winner of this year's Distinguished Alumni Award is Horace Walker (1958-1960). A two-year letterwinner, Walker served as captain of the 1960 Spartan squad. In his three years with the Green and White he averaged 15.6 points and 13.8 rebounds. His senior season saw him post one of the greatest individual seasons in Spartan history, averaging 22.6 points and 17.7 rebounds.

Despite standing just 6-foot-3, Walker was asked to play both forward and center for the Spartans. In a matchup with Indiana's 6-11 Walt Bellamy, Walker scored 29 points and grabbed 26 rebounds, one of five 20-20 performances in his career.

In 1960, Walker earned All-America honors as well as a spot of the All-Big Ten first team. The 18.3 rebounds per game average that Walker posted in Big Ten games in 1960 still is tops in conference history.

MSU Basketball Bust Awards

Scholar Athlete Award: A.J. Granger

Unsung Player Award: Andre Hutson and A.J. Granger

Most Improved Player Award: A.J. Granger and Charlie Bell

Inspiration Award: Mateen Cleaves

Best Defensive Player Award: Charlie Bell

Chairman of the Boards: Morris Peterson

Antonio Smith Glue and Guts Award: Mateen Cleaves

Charles S. Phillips Award (Media MVP): Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson

Chicago Tribune Award (Team MVP): Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson

Distinguished Alumnus Award: Horace Walker