KJ unanimously named top senior

Senior of the Year

The champion of the senior class is No. 2 in West Virginia history in minutes played, behind only Mountaineer legend DaSean Butler.

In his four-year career, forward Kevin Jones did not miss a single game and has solidified himself as one of the best in school history.

After forgoing last year’s NBA draft, Jones came back to lead a young WVU squad to its fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.

In his final season, the Mount Vernon, N.Y., native averaged 19.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

A strong force inside, Jones bruised his way past Chris Brooks into first place in WVU history with 450 offensive rebounds.

Jones also finished his career sixth in school history with 33 double doubles.

Runners up:

2.) Ray Gaddis, men’s soccer

3.) Julian Miller, football

Junior of the Year

A record-shattering athlete from Miramar, Fla., has been named Junior of the Year.

Quarterback Geno Smith re-wrote the West Virginia passing record book during its 10-3 season.

Smith became the first Mountaineer to eclipse the 4,000-yard milestone through the air, throwing for a school record 4,385 yards.

He also surpassed Marc Bulger’s completions and attempts records and tied his single season touchdown mark with 31.

Of course, Smith’s incredible year culminated with a 70-33 waxing of Clemson in the Orange Bowl in which he went 31-42 for 401 yards and six touchdowns.

Runners up:

2.) Tavon Austin, football

T3.) Eric Schoenle, men’s soccer

T3.) Bry McCarthy, women’s soccer

Sophomore of the Year

This year’s Sophomore of the Year award winner enjoys spending time in the end zone, the spread offense and making acrobatic catches.

Inside receiver Stedman Bailey led all WVU receivers with 12 touchdown receptions on the season, tripling his scoring output from last season and tying West Virginia’s all-time record.

The Miramar, Fla., native flourished during his first year as a part of Dana Holgorsen’s potent offensive scheme,

exploding for a WVU record 1,279 yards.

Bailey’s biggest moment of the year came in West Virginia’s final regular season game at USF.

On fourth-and-10 with time winding down, Bailey snared a sliding 26-yard reception with four seconds remaining on the clock to set up a game-winning field goal and preserve WVU’s BCS hopes.

Runners up:

2.) Frances Silva, women’s soccer

T3.) Hope Sloanhoffer, gymnastics

T3.) Christal Caldwell, women’s basketball

Surprise Player of the Year

The storied West Virginia rifle program carried a load of uncertainty into this season thanks to the departure of five all-American shooters, including the air rifle world champion, Nicco Campriani.

With only a few proven competitors on the roster, it was up to a group of newcomers to carry that burden.

This group of fresh faces combined to entrench WVU in the top three of the rankings all season.

But in the team’s most crucial time, the NCAA championships, one freshman shined brighter than rest.

Taylor Ciotola shot the highest score of the entire first air rifle relay at NCAAs, matching his personal best of 591 and earning him a spot in the air rifle finals.

After the Pasadena, Md. native helped WVU become the only school at the competition with two individual air rifle finals qualifiers, he used a 99.4 finals score to finish No. 6 overall at 690.4.

Runners up:

2.) Andy Bevin, men’s soccer

T3.) Darwin Cook, football

T3.) Kate Schwindel, women’s soccer