McGill's Dufort wins CIS award for leadership and community service
Vincent Dufort, a guard with the McGill University Redmen, was named recipient of the Ken Shields Award in recognition of his excellence in basketball, academics and community involvement, Wednesday night.
Dufort, a four-time all-star from Smiths Falls, Ont., becomes the first McGill player and only the third from the RSEQ conference to receive the Ken Shields Award, presented since 1994.
The 6-foot-4 shooting-guard, who was voted the conference MVP two years ago, averaged 10.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season. A team captain for the past three campaigns, the fifth-year physical education senior has earned a 3.34 grade-point average. In the community, he has served three years on the McGill Varsity Council and assists in various community service initiatives, including an annual Christmas food drive for the Sun Youth organization that helps feed the needy. He has also volunteered to speak and present basketball clinics at multiple schools, in both Quebec and Ontario.
"Vince has done everything humanly possible that a player can possibly do for our program," said head coach David DeAveiro, who convinced Dufort to choose McGill over offers from Carleton and Queen's. "He's an amazing young man that we've asked to do almost everything for us and he embraces every challenge. We've asked him to fill in at various positions, including point-guard and he says 'Whatever you want me to do coach, I'll do it.' That's his attitude since he's been here. He's a great player and a true leader but more than that, he's also an unbelievable competitor."
The other nominees were guard Shaquille Smith of Acadia, forward Sam Hirst of Laurentian and forward Jared Baker of Lethbridge.
