When the Big Ten announced its season-ending awards for men’s basketball on Monday, three Hawkeyes were among those earning some recognition.

Sophomores Aaron Fuller and Matt Gatens were chosen as honorable mention for the All-Big Ten squad, and Eric May made the conference’s All-Freshmen team.

May has started 22 of the Hawkeyes’ past 24 contests and leads all Big Ten freshmen in steals with 19 takeaways, 17 blocked shots. He averages 34 minutes per game.

Gatens is one of three players who has started all 31 games for the Hawkeyes this season, leading Iowa in scoring with 12.4 points per contest. He is also second on the team with 101 assists and 27 steals.

Fuller has started all 18 Big Ten games for Iowa this season; an ankle injury hobbled the Mesa, Ariz., native during nonconference play. In those 18 conference games, Fuller led the Hawkeyes in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.3 points per game and 7.6 boards per contest.

“We are a better team because of their approach and development,” Iowa head coach Todd Lickliter said in statement. “All three are underclassmen and have improved from the start of the season. I’m excited about the future.”

— by Brendan Stiles