A year ago, Manny Harris was named Michigan’s Most Valuable Player. In a show of kindness and brotherhood, he then shared the award with his best friend and teammate, DeShawn Sims.

On Monday, in the final Michigan awards banquet for both of them, Sims returned the favor, winning the Most Valuable Player Award and then sharing it with Harris.

In many ways, it was fitting. Sims and Harris have seemingly been joined together as one since Sims arrived four years ago and then Harris followed him a year later.

“DeShawn Sims was definitely the reason I came to Michigan,” Harris told those in the ballroom at the Four Points Sheraton.

Harris and Sims dominated the awards given out after a 15-17 season that saw Michigan miss the postseason.

Harris earned the Gary Grant Award for most assists and the award for outstanding free throw shooting. Sims was given the Iron Man Award.

Other than those, though, most of Michigan’s awards went to the future of Michigan.

Freshman Blake McLimans, who redshirted the season, was given the Most Improved Player Award. Freshman guard Darius Morris was named the team’s best defensive player.

Sophomore Zack Novak, the likely leader of Michigan’s team next year, was given the team’s Steve Grote Hustle Award, the Thad Garner Leadership Award the Wolverines’ award for most charges.

Novak has been leading a lot of the workouts the team has done on their own and Beilein will need him to continue for Michigan to be successful next year.

So far, though, Beilein has been excited about what he’s seen in workouts.

“The only one I’ve missed is one and there really has been great spirit,” Beilein said. “There’s only eight guys there, but Jordan Dumars was able to play the last two,. He’s been cleared with his shoulder. Their summer workouts are so huge. There’s a five month summer where coach Beilein and his staff can’t watch them. They must be self—starters and go through it.

“This is really a big time for them.”

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.