Leunen, Taylor Honored at Basketball Banquet

EUGENE, Ore. – Seniors Maarty Leunen and Bryce Taylor claimed most of the hardware handed out the annual Oregon men’s basketball banquet, held Sunday at the Valley River Inn.

Leunen, a forward from Redmond, Ore., claimed three awards. He was named the team’s most valuable player of the year in addition to picking up the Rear Admiral John Dick defensive player of the year award and the Harry Ritchie scholar-athlete award.

Leunen is second on the team in scoring at 15.4 points per game and leads the Ducks in rebounding at 9.3 per game. He also leads Oregon with 26 steals this season. In his career, Leunen is tied with Chet Noe for second all-time at Oregon with 890 rebounds. He is also 17th in career scoring with 1,235 points and seven in steals with 119.

Taylor was named the John Warren most inspirational player of the year. The Encino, Calif., native is averaging 13.1 points per game and leads the Ducks at the free throw line, shooting 80.8 percent. In his career, Taylor ranks 12th in career scoring with 1,418 points and ninth in three-pointers with 167.

Guard LeKendric Longmire was chosen as the Jesse Nash most improved player award winner. Longmire, a redshirt freshman from Pascagoula, Miss., is averaging 3.7 points per game in 26 appearances this season and has seen his minutes increase the last three weeks.

Oregon (18-12, 9-9) will face Washington State (23-7, 11-7) in the quarterfinals of the Pac-10 tournament Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.