Rice forward Michael Harris was one of 30 basketball players in their senior season to be nominated for the fourth annual Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Award. The award is presented annually to the nation's senior player of the year for NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball.
A national media committee will select 10 finalists for the award next February. When the season reaches the NCAA Tournament in March, nationwide fan balloting will be coupled with results from voting by coaches and media to determined the male and female winner. Legendary sportscaster Dick Enberg, who initiated the idea for the award and now serves as Honorary Chairman, announces the winner during the CBS telecast of the NCAA Men's Final Four.
The Senior CLASS Awardan acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School-was launched in the 2001-02 college basketball season. It is designed to honor the attributes of seniors who remain committeed to their university and elect to pursue the many rewards that a senior season can bring.