Peter Jok Named 2017 Chris Street Award Winner

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Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide. To receive daily news from the Iowa Hawkeyes, sign up HERE.

By MATTHEW WEITZEL
hawkeyesports.com

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Senior Peter Jok was named the recipient of the Chris Street Award for the 2016-17 University of Iowa men’s basketball season. The Hawkeye senior received the award Sunday at the team’s banquet.
 
The Chris Street Award is presented annually to a Hawkeye player, or players, who best exemplify the spirit, enthusiasm, and intensity of Chris Street. Street was an Iowa basketball player who died in an auto accident in 1993, midway through his junior year.
 
“Thanks to the Street family,” Jok said. “It’s a privilege to be recognized for this award and be included with all the past winners.”
 
The native of West Des Moines, Iowa, became the fifth Hawkeye in school history to lead the Big Ten in scoring (19.9). Jok established new school free throw percentage records for a single-season (.911) and career (.881). Jok, a first-team All-Big Ten, USBWA and NABC all-district honoree, finished his senior season with 636 points — the most by a Hawkeye since Adam Haluska in 2007 (637). Jok also was recognized as a Senior CLASS Award Second-Team All-American and won the 3-Point Championships event. Jok finished his Hawkeye career 15th in Iowa career scoring (1,508) and fourth in 3-pointers (216).
 
“Peter has left an incredible mark on Iowa basketball,” said head coach Fran McCaffery. “From day one, Peter kept working and believing in himself. I’m proud of him.”
 
Other Hawkeyes recognized at the banquet included Nicholas Baer, Jordan Bohannon, Tyler Cook, and Ahmad Wagner.
 
Baer was the recipient of three awards: Best Defensive Player, Best Rebounder, and Academic Excellence. The native of Bettendorf, Iowa, was the only Division I player in 2016-17 and only Big Ten player over the last 25 seasons, to amass 250+ points, 45+ steals, 45+ 3-pointers, and 40+ blocked shots in a season. The Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year became only the fourth Hawkeye to lead a Hawkeye team in both steals and blocked shots in the same season.
 
Wagner earned the Kenny Arnold Hawkeye Spirit Award and Most Improved Player Award. The Kenny Arnold Hawkeye Spirit Award is presented to the Hawkeye who exemplifies Arnold’s spirit of leadership, character, courage, determination and poise. This player inspires his teammates do and be their very best in spite of the odds.
 
Wagner’s determination, resiliency, spirit, and leadership helped lead the Hawkeyes as a sophomore co-captain. The Yellow Springs, Ohio, native ranked third on the team in blocked shots (14), fourth in steals (27), and fifth in assists (46).
 
“Kenny is a special person,” said Wagner upon receiving the award. “This is truly a blessing and an honor to earn the very first Kenny Arnold Hawkeye Spirit Award.”
 
Bohannon and Cook shared the Newcomer of the Year Award, while Bohannon was also honored as Top Playmaker.
 
Bohannon was one of only two freshmen in the country the last 25 seasons to register 175+ assists and 85+ 3-pointers. His 89 triples shattered Iowa’s single-season freshman record, besting Matt Gatens’ previous mark of 52 set in 2009. Bohannon, one of five players named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, led the Hawkeyes in assists (175) and 3-pointers made (89), and was third in scoring (10.9 ppg.). His 175 assists are the most by an Iowa freshman and rank eighth-best by any Hawkeye player in a single season. Bohannon finished the season by posting a school-record three straight double-doubles in points and assists (Indiana, South Dakota, and TCU). Bohannon helped lead Iowa to a win at nationally-ranked Maryland, draining eight 3-pointers (8-of-10). The eight triples are the most by a Hawkeye rookie and was one shy Chris Kingsbury’s school record.
 
Like Bohannon, Cook was one of the five best conference rookies voted to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team by league coaches. The native of St. Louis ranked second on the Hawkeyes in scoring (12.3 ppg.) and was third in rebounding (5.3 rpg.). His 12.3 scoring average was fifth-best among league rookies this season.
 
Iowa finished the 2016-17 season with a 19-15 overall record. The Hawkeyes return 76.7 percent of its scoring and 86.2 percent of its rebounding next season.
 

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