Lawrence Roberts wins Howell Trophy...

[Greenhead22]

Posted on Thu, Apr. 14, 2005

Roberts claims inaugural Howell Trophy

JOEDY McCREARY

Associated Press


JACKSON, Miss. - Lawrence Roberts capped his brief but brilliant career at Mississippi State by winning the Howell Trophy on Thursday as the best college basketball player in Mississippi.

Roberts, a power forward who had more than 1,000 points and 600 rebounds in just two seasons in Starkville, won the inaugural award voted upon by 41 of the state's media members and named after Mississippi State great Bailey Howell.

"It's a great accomplishment, icing on the cake for my two years being here," Roberts said.

Roberts shook the hands of the other two finalists - Shane Power, his teammate at Mississippi State, and Mississippi forward Tommie Eddie - before accepting the award from former Jackson State and NBA player Purvis Short.

Roberts, who averaged 16.9 points and a Southeastern Conference-leading 11 rebounds this season, blossomed into one of the best big men in the nation two years ago after transferring to Mississippi State from Baylor after teammate Patrick Dennehy's .

Coach Rick Stansbury "gave me that home feeling to come to Mississippi State," Roberts said. "Coming from Texas, I was just looking for that home feeling. And I got it."

The Houston native was an All-American and the SEC's player of the year for the 2003-04 season after leading the Bulldogs to their first outright conference regular-season title in 41 years and averaging 17.1 points and 10.2 rebounds.

This season, his rebounding numbers were even better - Roberts led the SEC in that category and was the only Howell Trophy finalist to lead the league in any statistic - which made him a natural selection for the award named after the top rebounder in Mississippi State history.

"I think the right guy got it," Power said of Roberts.

Roberts' scoring suffered only slightly despite increased attention from his growing reputation as one of the SEC's best frontcourt players, and because the Bulldogs' perimeter game failed to stretch defenses and unclog the lane. As a result, Roberts was fifth in the league in scoring with just under 17 points per game.

And in one of the highlights of the season, he had the first triple-double in school history, finishing with 18 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a 98-69 rout of Nicholls State on Nov. 21.

He finished his two-year Mississippi State career with 1,025 points and 640 rebounds.

Howell, the namesake of the trophy, was an All-American at Mississippi State and a six-time NBA All-Star who is second in school history with 2,030 points and the Bulldogs' all-time leading rebounder with 1,277.

Power finished his career as Mississippi State's leader in 3-point field goal percentage among players with at least 100 attempts, making 41.5 of his attempts from beyond the arc in his two years in Starkville.

He finished second on the Bulldogs team with 11.1 points per game. The Iowa State transfer who is from Crown Point, Ind., made 38 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.

"Mr. Howell, to me, represents doing things in a championship manner," Power said. "Having two guys up there I think really means that Mississippi State has done things in a championship manner the last few years. To be that championship-level team, with two championship-level people, is an honor."

Eddie, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, led the Rebels with 11 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

The trophy is sponsored by Cellular South.

[Bankermane]

Should have gone pro last year.

[Greenhead22]

Wasn't ready.......didn't have guaranteed 1st round money.

[Bankermane]

Still isn't ready. Not a first rounder for sure now.

[webbmaster]

overrated