Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Pitt's Aaron Gray, a communications and rhetoric major who has a minor in history, carries a 3.1 grade-point average. Click photo for larger image.

NEW YORK -- Pitt center Aaron Gray did not take home the big prize at last night's Big East awards banquet, but the 7-foot senior did not leave empty-handed. Gray, one of the contenders for the Big East player of the year, had to settle for the scholar-athlete of the year, a prestigious honor bestowed upon the player in the conference who performs as well in the classroom as he does on the court.

Gray, a communications and rhetoric major who has a minor in history, carries a 3.1 grade-point average.

Gray said the scholar-athlete award means as much to him as winning the most improved player last year and the Big East preseason player of the year in the fall.

"Some people may overlook this, but they shouldn't," Gray said. "There are so many things on a basketball court that can be told by how many points you score or how many assists you get. This award is more off the court. It not only shows what you do on the court, it shows what you do off the court. It's real difficult balancing a basketball schedule for the year. We were a top 10 basketball team that played on national television almost every game. You're at the gym five hours a day, the pressure that goes along with it. When you're not on the court you're thinking about what's going to happen next. I've been fortunate. I have great people surrounding me. The university supports us as students as well as basketball players."

Pitt has now won every Big East award except for defensive player of the year. Gray was the first Pitt player to win the scholar-athlete award.

"When we go into homes, we tell [players and parents] two things," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "We tell them they're going to improve as players and that they're going to graduate. All four seniors will graduate this year. This award is a reflection of what we've been doing throughout our program. It's the first time we won this award. This one, to me, is the most important one we won."

Gray has not always been a good student. He told the story last night of how he took home a poor report card as a freshman in high school and the grief he received from his parents. Once he decided he wanted to pursue basketball at the college level, he knew he needed to get his academics in order.

After that rough freshman year, he received a 3.5 grade-point average the rest of his high school career.

Gray is likely to make a living in professional basketball for at least a few years, but he said his experience at Pitt has convinced him that being a teacher and a coach is a real possibility when his playing career is over.

"Hopefully, he won't be in that coaching thing for a while," Dixon joked. "That means it's important to him. It reflects that you had success, you enjoyed it and it's important to you."

Other award winners last night included: Jeff Green of Georgetown (player of the year), Mike Brey of Notre Dame (coach of the year), Herbert Hill of Providence (most improved player), Jerel McNeal of Marquette (defensive player of the year) and Brandon Jenkins of Louisville (sportsmanship award).