April 28, 2006
SEATTLE, WA - The Seattle University men's basketball team raised $16,000 at its 2005-06 Awards Banquet and Silent Auction, said Head Coach Joe Callero.
The end of the season banquet, held April 22 in the Connolly Center's North Court, honored three Redhawks for their achievements on the court, and four members of the community for their continued support of the men's basketball program.
Senior Jeffrey McDaniel was named most valuable player and most inspirational.
An all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference second team member, McDaniel scored 13.4 points per game with 39 steals, 28 blocks, 67 assists and 7.0 rebounds in 2005-06. McDaniel is the highest scorer in SU history since the school joined the NCAA Division II level in 1999-2000, finishing with 1,268 total points. Among all SU men's basketball players, including the Division I era, McDaniel ranks 17th in total points and 11th in rebounding with 725 career rebounds.
"Jeff had an unbelievable four-year career at Seattle University," said Head Coach Joe Callero. "His MVP was voted by his teammates, which shows how his team felt about him. Jeff picked up the slack when Bernard Seals was injured in the second half of the season. His accomplishments during this season and over his four-year career have etched his name firmly into the SU record books."
Sophomore Shaun Burl was the recipient of the coaches' awards. Burl averaged 2.3 points for the Redhawks, coming off the bench in 20 games for SU in 2005-06.
"Shaun Burl was selected by the coaches for the award due to his consistent effort and presence on the practice floor," Callero said. "He is a good teammate in the locker room, demonstrating responsibility on the court and on campus."
Freshman Leigh Swanson was selected as the most improved player. Swanson started eight of the 27 games he appeared in for SU in 2005-06, shooting 42 percent from the floor and averaging 6.9 points and 4.0 rebounds.
"Leigh is the shining star as a freshman," Callero said. "He was able to carve himself into the starting lineup several times at the end of the season, including a strong effort in a 21-point performance at Humboldt State. He continues to increase his strength, improving both academically and athletically."
The 2005-06 men's basketball team finished with a 16-11 record, the best winning percentage since the 1984-85. The Redhawks also had a regional ranking, the first time since joining the NCAA Division II level. SU also had its first NCAA Division I victory in 25 years, defeating Portland 88-85 Nov. 23.
The Redhawk men's basketball team also honored four members of the SU community at the banquet.
"The four honorees that we had were all dedicated members of the community who helped our program grow," Callero said. "They helped us raise $16,000 to get closer to that goal of the team heading to Hawaii next season as well as helping with volunteer coaching stipends."
Jim Navone, Sarah Bee, Kevin Suther and John Dougherty were each presented with a framed photograph of the 2005-06 SU men's basketball team. Navone, a 1978 graduate of Seattle Prep, was a four-year letter winner at Seattle University and a three-time member of the President's Advisory Council.
Bee is a professor of management accounting and accounting information systems at SU.
Suther played on the SU men's basketball team from 1974-1978, averaging 6.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and shooting 43 percent in 90 games for Seattle University's Division I period. Suther was a West Coast Conference honorable mention pick in 1975-76 and played professionally in Europe and on the Seattle Supersonics summer league team.
Doughtery, father of current SU women's basketball senior Danica Doughtery, served as president of the SU athletic booster club for three years during the 1970s.
"The 50-50 raffle goes to show John Doughtery's dedication to the program," Callero said. "He won the first raffle, which was $390 and gave it back to us. We tried to raffle off $100 and John won it again, and gave it back to us. It shows that there is divine intervention toward giving at this university."
Callero said that the best gift will be the one he plans to receive in June, when all four SU men's basketball seniors graduate.