Shawn Ori. Sports Director KTVM-TV. Butte, Montana:
"Sherman Vernon was a key element in the Tech Orediggers National Championship bid. He possesses the ability to play three positions point guard, off guard and small forward -with equal adeptness. He understands the game offensively and isn't afraid to 'bang' or 'get dirty' defensively."
Ron Davis. 'Digger Play-by-Play Announcer. KBOW Radio. Butte. Montana:
"One of the best driving forwards in Frontier Conference basketball, and one of the few players who looks forward to man-to-man defenses. The kid can take the ball to the hoop and there is nobody, at least in the Frontier Conference, who could stop him. I've been involved in Tech basketball since 1980 and there hasn't been anyone who was as good a ball player as Sherman Vernon. He is not only a quality athlete, but Sherman is also a tremendous human being".
Jim Kampen. Head Coach. Carroll College. Helena. Montana:
"Sherman Vernon was definitely the most valuable player in the Frontier Conference during the 1987-88 season. He's a great penetrator and was unselfish with the ball which made everyone around him a better player. Sherman was extremely difficult to defend. Whenever we double-teamed him, he always got the ball to the open man - that's what it's all about."
Jay Pivec. Head Coach. Northern Montana College, Havre. Montana:
"Last year (1987-88), in my opinion, Sherman was player of the year in the Frontier Conference. He was instrumental in leading Montana Tech to the championship. Sherman possessed strong individual skills as a basketball player, but he played as a team member. Sherman was very, very unselfish from the standpoint that he brought out the best in his fellow players. In my four years at Northern, Sherman Vernon is on my list of the top-five players who have played in the Frontier Conference. He can play either a small forward or off guard. His tremendous size and strength also created problems for opponents.“
Casey Keltz. Head Coach. Western Montana College. Dillon. Montana:
"Sherman was instrumental to Montana Tech gaining the Frontier Conference championship in 1987-88. For his size he has good speed and takes the ball to the basket very well. Sherman Vernon was definitely the Orediggers team leader.“
Scott Carson, Head Coach. Rocky Mountain College, Billings. Montana:
"I thought that Sherman Vernon was a key to Montana Tech's 1987-88 championship season. He is a tremendous competitor and creates a lot of different problems when you try to match up with him because of his size. The bottom line is that Sherman Vernon is a winner. He will figure out how to get the job done. Sherman was the top player in the Frontier Conference. He displayed tremendous heart and character."
Dennis Grose, Sports Information Director. Montana Tech. Butte. Montana:
"Sherman Vernon is probably the most dominant small forward to play in the Frontier Conference in recent memory. His ability to take the ball inside and dominate the middle and his smooth transition to defense were unmatched. Sherman is a team player who provided leadership to those around him. His court sense is uncanny, and he also had the unique quality of pulling the crowd into a game. Off the court, my family and I have found Sherman Vernon to be sensitive, caring, sincere, and overall simply one helluva guy.“
Prepared by: Dennis Grose --- Montana Tech, Sports Information Director 1988
The Award
