OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – All-American guard Jevon Carter of West Virginia has been selected as the 2017-18 Senior CLASS Award^® winner in NCAA^® Division I men's basketball. The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I men's basketball coaches, national basketball media and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I men's basketball. Carter is the second student-athlete from West Virginia to win the Senior CLASS Award after Da'Sean Butler also won for men's basketball in 2010.
 
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character and competition.
 
"It's an honor to receive the Senior CLASS Award," said Carter, who earned second-team All-America honors from The Sporting News and third-team honors from the NABC. "I've always tried to stay focused on the tasks that are in front of me and not letting other things distract me. My parents have always kept me focused and levelheaded, and I've always focused on the bigger picture. If you stay focused and stay on course, anything can happen. I've been a hard worker on and off the court, and it just shows that hard work pays off on the court and in the classroom."
 
The first guard ever to be named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year twice (2017, 2018), Carter will go down as one of the most heralded players in West Virginia basketball history. In addition to his All-America honors this season, he was a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 Conference First Team and earned his fourth All-Big 12 Defensive Team, becoming the first in the history of the Big 12 to earn a spot on the team during each season. With stats that placed him at or near the top of many school-record categories including assists, steals and points, Carter became just the fifth Division I player all-time to have more than 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 300 steals in a career. With 105 wins during his career, Carter led WVU to four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament with three Sweet 16 visits and a consistent ranking among college basketball's top 25.
 
"He is as good as a guy as anyone could ever ask for," said Head Coach Bob Huggins. "He's the hardest worker I've ever coached. He's a great student and a great, great teammate. People in the community absolutely love him, and he volunteers for everything. We do a lot of community service, and he's the first guy in line. I think if you sat down and thought about what you wanted in a student-athlete, you can say just watch Jevon because he fits the total description."
 
As committed to success off the court as he was on, Carter chose to return to West Virginia for his senior season and will graduate with a degree in sport management this spring. Carrying a cumulative 3.5 grade-point average, Carter was named the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for men's basketball and a first-team Academic All-American. Also a two-time team captain, Carter earned a reputation as one of the hardest-working and team-centered Mountaineers, setting a positive example for his teammates through his dedication and effort on the court and in the classroom, as well as through his commitment to service in the community. During his tenure at WVU, Carter has dedicated time to visiting the WVU Children's Hospital and patients at Health South Rehabilitation Center and has spoken at numerous events encouraging students to pursue education and responsibility and to stay away from drugs and alcohol.
 
"Jevon Carter is an excellent representative of what the Senior CLASS Award stands for," said Erik Miner, Executive Director of the Senior CLASS Award. "Not only did he pass up the opportunity to depart school early for the NBA, he also pushed himself to excellence in the classroom and left a legacy of positive impact on others. We're thrilled to honor him as the Senior CLASS Award winner for men's basketball and offer our congratulations to him, his team and to West Virginia University."
 
For more information on all the finalists, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.
 

 
Senior CLASS Award First-Team All-Americans

Shawn Anderson, Navy

Jevon Carter, West Virginia

A.J. Jacobson, North Dakota State

Justin Johnson, Western Kentucky

Yante Maten, Georgia

Senior CLASS Award Second-Team All-Americans

Vladimir Brodziansky, TCU

Angel Delgado, Seton Hall

Rob Gray, Houston

Luke Morrison, Army

Johnathan Williams, Gonzaga

 
 
ABOUT THE AWARD
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award honors the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards a senior season can bring. Premier Sports Management manages the award. 
 
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