STANDISH, ME - Monks Basketball Head Coach Rob Sanicola has announced his 2007-08 team awards. Five different players received honors as six awards were given to members of the Monks basketball team.

Junior forward Elbie Murphy (Loudonville, NY) is the recipient of both the 2007-08 Defensive Player of the Year and Chris Kiernan Most Valuable Player Awards. Murphy averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.2 blocks per game this season and was named to the GNAC All-Conference Second Team as well as MMBCWA All-State First Team. The junior reached the 1,000 point milestone on January 26th in a win over conference foe Albertus Magnus College and finished the season with 1,175 points, good for 17th best in Monks history. Murphy also set the GNAC single-season record for steals (57) and steals per game (3.17) in 2007-08.

Chris Kiernan came to Saint Joseph's in 1970 after playing collegiately for nationally-ranked Assumption College. In addition to coaching the Monks for eight years, Kiernan also served as Athletic Director, Director of the Continuing Education Program, Dean of Students, Director of Financial Aid and Director of Admissions. He was responsible for obtaining the original Monk uniforms when Assumption Prep closed in 1970, and he breathed life into the program when he comprised a schedule and put together a team beginning with the 1970-71 season. His tireless efforts and love for the game of basketball laid the foundation for all future successes.

Sophomore guard Alberto Rue (Jamaica Plain, MA) has been named as the 2007-08 Most Improved Player. The sophomore proved to be the Monks' top long-range threat last year as he made 55 of 116 three-point shots for a 47.4% success rate, which broke the St. Joe's single-season three-point shooting percentage record. Rue's long distance shooting percentage ranked 3rd in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference and his 55 three-pointers made ranked 4th in the league. Overall, Rue, a 2008 GNAC Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team member, ranked third on the team with 11.6 points per game.

The 2007-08 Rivalries Coaches' Award goes to junior guard Jay Tutwiler (Sarasota, FL). Throughout the season, Tutwiler displayed a strong work ethic and a great attitude. The award is sponsored by Rivalries Sports Pub and Grill in Portland, Me.

Junior R.J. Mattison (Hamden, CT) has received the Charles Warren Award, which goes to the player who is deemed to be the hardest-working player during the pre-season conditioning period. Charles Warren graduated from St. Joe's in 1988 and was well know for his incredible work ethic, which allowed him to develop into a polished player and finish his career with 1,287 points.

The 2007-08 Jim Killoran Award recipient is junior guard Scot Vachon (Schenectady, NY).The award is given annually to the individual who is voted by team members as the hardest worker in practice throughout the season. Vachon is well-deserving of this award, as his work ethic in practice spills over to the court on game-day, where he can be seen diving for loose balls or driving the lane with reckless abandon. The junior point guard started all 27 games for the Monks last season and averaged 6.2 points and 5.0 assists per game for the 14-13 squad. Jim Killoran graduated from St. Joe's in 1980 and was known for his tireless work ethic in practice as well as his caring and inspirational manner.