Adam Stevens, a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene College men's basketball team, was presented with the Pete Maravich Memorial Award at the National Christian College Athletic Association national tournament banquet on Wednesday night at Oakland City (IN) University.
The Maravich Award is presented annually by the NCCAA to the outstanding Christian basketball player in the organization. The criteria includes being a highly-skilled senior player who possesses a vital Christian testimony on and off the court. The player must also exhibit outstanding leadership qualities and excel in the classroom.
Stevens, a 6-foot-6 senior forward from Mount Vernon, Ohio, has met and exceeded all of the above categories after wrapping up a stellar career this season. The former Mount Vernon High School standout started all 133 games of his career and led the Cougars to a 103-30 overall record and three appearances in the NAIA Division II national tournament.
Stevens, who was selected as an NAIA Division II Second and Third Team All-American during his career, was the NCCAA East Region Player of the Year this season. For his career, he averaged 15.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as he posted a school-record 44 career double-doubles.
Stevens also excelled in the classroom as the Philosophy major has posted a 3.51 grade point average and has been named to the MVNC Dean's List for three semesters. He is planning to pursue a master's degree in Religion at Asbury (KY) College upon graduation.
Stevens has also been very active on campus and in other various community activities. He has served as MVNC's student chaplain this year, and has been a member of the MVNC student government association. He has taught Sunday School at Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene, and he helped to organize basketball clinics in Toronto during the summer of 1999. He also traveled with Athletes in Action to Poland and Sweden in the summer of 1998.
"Adam is an outstanding well-rounded individual," said MVNC head coach Scott Flemming. "As a player, he will go down in school history as one of the best ever. As a person, his character and accomplishments off the court are even more significant. He epitomizes the spirit of this award."
