The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is presented each year to the outstanding NCAA Division I Senior Players of the Year.
The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award was first created for the 2001-02 NCAA season, in response to the recent trend of college basketball players leaving school early to turn professional. CLASS is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, and the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award honors seniors for completing their collegiate athletic eligibility.
The idea first came from legendary sportscaster Dick Enberg, who suggested such an award during the CBS telecast of the 2001 National Championship Game when Shane Battier led Duke to the NCAA Men's Division I title. Battier’s well-chronicled decision to turn down the NBA and return for his senior season was the media story of the year in college basketball. (Read more about Dick Enberg...)
Later in 2001,the Kansas City Club announced the formation of the Senior CLASS Award. Managed by Premier Sports Management, and with Enberg as Honorary Chairman, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award became an immediate success.
The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winners are determined each year using a selection process that includes nationwide balloting. Dick Enberg announces each year's Men's Basketball Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winners on CBS television during the Final Four® telecast.
Each year's nominees for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award include athletes from universities across the USA. These athletes are eligible to join a prestigious group of previous yearly winners in addition to the Senior CLASS All-American team.
The decision whether or not to return for their senior season faces many outstanding collegiate athletes each year. The Senior CLASS Award is designed to honor the attributes of seniors who remain committed to their university, and who elect to pursue the many rewards that a senior season can bring. This award provides a fitting honor for senior leaders who stand up to the challenge. In the end, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award hopes to recognize the prestige and dignity of being a senior college athlete.