PISCATAWAY, N.J. (November 4, 2009) - Rutgers senior center Hamady Ndiaye (Dakar, Senegal) has been named one of 30 men’s candidates for the 2009-10 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. 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, character, community and competition.
The Lowe’s 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.
Ndiaye is one of the nation's premier shot blockers and has played his best basketball in the BIG EAST against some of the nation's top big men. Entering his senior season, he has already accumulated 213 blocks, fifth most in Rutgers history. A two-time team defensive M.V.P, he ranked third in the BIG EAST and 30th nationally in blocks-per-game as a junior after ranking 10th nationally and second in the BIG EAST in blocks in 2007-08.
Ndiaye excels as much off the court as he does on it. Fluent in four languages, he has overcome a language barrier to achieve in the classroom. A communication major, he has been cited on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll with a semester GPA of 3.0 or above three times. He received the team's Kevin Collins Most Improved Scholar-Athlete Award in 2008-09 after receiving the George Mackaronis Scholar-Athlete Award in 2007-08.
A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee since his freshman year, Ndiaye is also a mentor in the athletic department’s mentoring program. A team co-captain as a junior in 2008-09, he is the lone senior on the 2009-10 roster. He started playing basketball at the age of 16 after previously competing in soccer as a goalkeeper. His intent is to utilize the education he gains in the United States to make a positive difference in his native Senegal.
Ndiaye is also one of the most involved Scarlet Knights in the community. He is active in the national “Read Across America” program and reads to children at local elementary schools. In addition, every season he has played at Rutgers, he has been a pen pal with a local elementary school student. During the holiday season he helps distribute toys to needy children through Toys for Tots. He has also participated in the “Get out the Vote” initiative for the 2008 election, as well as fundraising walks to benefit lupus and cancer awareness.
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of classroom, character, community and competition.
Ndiaye is one of four BIG EAST players listed as a candidate for the award. He is joined by Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody, Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds and West Virginia’s Da’Sean Butler.
This marks the ninth year for the basketball division of the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. Previous winners of the men’s basketball award include Juan Dixon of Maryland (2002), David West of Xavier (2003), Jameer Nelson of St. Joseph’s (2004), Wayne Simien of Kansas (2005), J.J. Redick of Duke (2006), Alando Tucker of Wisconsin (2007), Shan Foster of Vanderbilt (2008) and Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina (2009). 2009-10 LOWE'S SENIOR CLASS AWARD CANDIDATES
