June 14, 2007

Providence, R.I. - The first annual Cox Rhode Island Sports Awards, presented by Amica, will take place on Thursday, June 21 at the Providence Performing Arts Center. The event will feature former Friars Herbert Hill, Ryan Gomes, Dave Gavitt, and event emcee Doris Burke.

Hill will be honored as the male college Athlete of the Year. For the 2006-07 season, Hill led the Friars in scoring with an 18.1 points-per-game average and finished second in rebounding with a 8.8 rpg mark. Hill also became the third Friar of all time to lead the BIG EAST in scoring, with a 19.9 ppg average in BIG EAST play. For his outstanding performances throughout the 06-07 season, which included 14 double-doubles, Hill was a First Team All-BIG EAST selection as well as the conference's Most Improved Player award recipient.

Ryan Gomes will be honored as the Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. Gomes, currently a member of the Boston Celtics, was one of the greatest to ever play for the men's basketball team at Providence College. The All-American ranks first all-time in points scored with 2,138, and fifth in rebounds with 1,028. A two time All-BIG EAST First Team selection, he, like Hill, led the BIG EAST in scoring during his senior season with a 21.6 ppg mark. In the 2006-2007 season, Gomes played in 73 of the Celtics' 82 games, averaging 12.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Dave Gavitt, a 2006 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, will be on board to participate in the awards ceremony as will Doris Burke, who will be hosting the festivities. Gavitt, founder of the BIG EAST conference, spent 17 years at Providence College, and was the men's basketball head coach from 1969-79. In that span Gavitt led the Friars to their first Final Four appearance, in 1973, as well as eight 20-win seasons, five NCAA Tournament appearances, and three NIT appearances. Gavitt also served as PC's athletic director, as well as the director of the BIG EAST. Burke graduated from PC in 1987, after an impressive career on the women's basketball team. She began her career as a broadcaster in 1990 and has worked for ESPN for 16 years, as well as for ABC Sports for four years. She has covered many collegiate and professional events including New York Knick games, and the BIG EAST Men's Basketball Tournament. In 2000, Burke was inducted into the PC Athletic Hall of Fame. Most recently, she received the Trailblazer Award by the Women's Center of Rhode Island.