University of North Carolina Athletics
Cota MVP, Top Senior at Awards Banquet
April 11, 2000 | Men's Basketball
April 11, 2000
University of North Carolina point guard Ed Cota was named Most Valuable Player, Most Outstanding Senior and Team Captain at the team's annual awards banquet Tuesday night at the Smith Center. The school celebrated a season in which the Tar Heels went 22-14, advanced to the NCAA Tournament for a 26th consecutive season and reached the Final Four for a record 15th time. Cota was not present at the banquet. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native was in Phoenix, Ariz., for an NBA Pre-Draft Camp. Cota's high school coach, Eric Eisenberg spoke on Cota's behalf during the traditional senior speeches.
Cota finished his career with 1,030 assists, third in NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference history. He is the only player in NCAA history to have 1,000 points (1,261), 1,000 assists (1,030) and 500 rebounds (517). Cota is also the only player in ACC history to lead the league in assists four times. He broke Carolina's assist record for the third time in his four-year career this season when he totaled 284 assists, an average of 8.1 per contest.
Freshman guard Joseph Forte won the Jimmie Dempsey Award, which is given to the team's overall statistical leader. Forte led Carolina in scoring (16.7 ppg) and steals (54), was second in assists (87) and third in rebounds (5.5).
Junior center Brendan Haywood, who confirmed Tuesday he would return to UNC for his senior season, received the Carmichael-Cobb Award given to the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Haywood also received awards for leading the team in rebounds, field goal percentage and blocked shots.
"As I have repeatedly said over the last six weeks, I will not enter my name into the NBA Draft this season," said Haywood. "I appreciate Coach Guthridge's and Coach Smith's advice and thank them for the information they helped provide. My mom and I feel this is best course for me to take. I want to complete my degree and help my teammates compete for a national championship. Making it to the Final Four was nice, but I feel we have unfinished business."
Sophomore forward Jason Capel was selected Most Inspirational Player and received coaches' awards for the most good plays during the season, most charges taken and best free throw percentage.
Sophomore forward/center Kris Lang received the award for being the team's best screener. Junior center Brian Bersticker, who was able to play in just five games early in the season due to injury, received the Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete Award.
Point guard Jonathan Holmes was recipient of the Butch Bennett Award, which is presented to the freshman who best exemplifies determination, sportsmanship and sacrifice for the good of the team.
Junior guard Michael Brooker was given the Rick Sharp Award. That award is given to the player who contributes the most to the team in practice and behind the scenes.
