The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

HIS tenure with the Houston Cougars came to an end months ago, but Danrad “Chicken” Knowles continues to be commended for his contributions off the floor.

Knowles was presented with the “Rich Stotter Champion for Life Award” at the 7th Annual Cougar Choice Awards, hosted by the University Of Houston Department Of Athletics last week.

The versatile forward on the basketball court was heralded for his presence as one of the most recognised personalities on the Cougars’ campus, garnering a heralded nickname.

“The Bahamian is a constant presence throughout the Houston Athletics Department and is seen at a number of athletic events throughout the year. A fan favourite who has been nicknamed the “Mayor of the University of Houston,” said the press release issued by the athletic department’s website said.

Knowles finished his career as school record holder with 72 conference games played and is tied for fourth in Houston career history with 126 games played. He finished his senior season with averages of 7.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and one blocked shot per game while shooting 45 per cent from the field.

On the season, he finished with a season high 25 points in a win against Rhode Island and notched his only double double of the season with 13 points and a team-high 10 rebounds against Memphis.

He was known as a community activist for the city of Houston for charity events and social functions. Knowles was also regarded as one of the first student athletes to volunteer for community service events and was a constant presence at athletic events throughout the school.

He follows fellow Bahamian member of the Cougars’ programme, Mikhail McLean, by winning a community service award in recent years. McLean was presented with the Conference USA Winter Spirit of Service Award as a redshirt sophomore in 2013.

According to Conference-USA, the award is doled out to “recognise the community service efforts of the league’s student-athletes, based upon significant community service, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport.”

Knowles, deemed academically ineligible in his true freshman season, enters the year as a redshirt freshman.

Knowles was ranked 51st in the ESPN top 100, according the ESPN with a scout’s grade of 94. Coming out of high school, the 6’ 10” forward was 13th at his position in the state, 10th in the region and seventh in the state of Texas.

As a redshirt freshman, he finished with averages of 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, he posted career highs across the board and scored 9.9 points and grabbed 5.6 rebounds per game in just over 27 minutes on the floor. As a junior, his numbers dipped under new head coach Kelvin Sampson and he played in just over 17 minutes per game, scored six points and grabbed 3.7 rebounds per game.

The award Knowles won was named after the late great Houston football student-athlete Rich Stotter.

The Cougar Choice awards highlighted the student-athletes’ 2016-17 accomplishments and awarded several academic and athletic awards throughout the night.

The awards were hosted by the Corbin J Robertson Society, and was led by the Houston Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Stotter was the first to receive consensus honours with his performance at offensive guard for the Cougars as a senior in 1967. Stotter was taken in the 14th Round of the 1968 AFL draft by the Houston Oilers, with whom he played one season before retiring as a player.