Julian Sensley had an excused absence from the annual awards banquet for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team last night.

He was busy in California preparing for a professional basketball career.

"I really wanted to be there, but I have a trainer here in Los Angeles and we have a schedule that I do every day," Sensley said. "I'm pushing myself, working every day. My goal is to play pro ball somewhere, and that's why I'm working so hard over here."

Sensley was named the Art Woolaway Most Outstanding Player at the banquet last night at the Hawai'i Prince Hotel. It was the second consecutive year that he received the team's top honor.

Sensley, a 6-foot-9 forward, led the team in scoring with 17.6 points per game, and also contributed 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection, and is the only player in the program's history to rank in the all-time top 10 for points (ninth with 1,230), rebounds (seventh with 598) and assists (ninth with 289).

Sensley is also the seventh player in the program's history to be named Most Outstanding Player twice. The others are Tom Henderson (1973 and '74), Tony Wells ('78 and '79), Chris Gaines ('87 and '90), Reggie Cross ('88 and '89), Anthony Carter ('97 and '98) and Predrag Savovic ('01 and '02).

Sensley said he has hired an agent, and is hoping to get invited to at least one pre-draft camp before the June 28 NBA Draft.

"Obviously, I'm not on anybody's (mock draft) board right now, but the scouts know about me," he said. "There's other ways to get on an NBA roster, and I'm confident somebody will give me a shot."

Among the other players honored last night: