Category: Basketball Features

The Defensive Player of the Year is likely to be one of the hotly contested awards this season with several worthy candidates in the running

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MVP

The Most Valuable Player Awards for the Premier League are determined by a system in which each team’s head coach allocates votes after each minor game of the season. After the completion of the minor rounds a list of the top 15 vote recipients is compiled, based on this voting system and sent to each team’s head coach who then allocates 3-2-1 votes to players for this award from that list.

Based on this here is the list of my candidates MVP for Womens and Mens

Womens

Brigitte-Lefebvre Okankwu

In all but four games she is likely to be ranked best on court for the Mavs making her a highly desirable MVP choice to her team and fits the description of the award.

Sam Simons

Potential double possibility of a dual medallist off the back of 13 best on court for the Eagle performances.

Mikayla Williams

Another potential dual medallist with the possibility of 11 best on courts for the Sabres.

Mens

Joel Spear

Again Spear’s value can’t be underestimated to his team and the league, particularly in wins I predict for him to grab best over half of the Sabres games.  

Jeremy Smith

Will be getting plenty of threes from the coaches and the value is when he doesn’t have an impact, in the Panthers losses he’s got an average of 20.4 compared to his season average 26.6; that’s a valuable player to their team and the league.

Lachlan Olbrich

Was best on court for his team seven of his twelve games played and a close second in the others. Not only will he poll well in his games; he’s been the standout in his Tigers team this season.  

Best Defensive Player of 2022

Womens

Kayla Mathews – Tough lock down defender and has nullified some of the league’s best

Jasmin Fejo – Huge improvement in defensive game and not only steals off her opponents but has blocked several this season at that end of the floor

Bella Stratford – Assigned to the opposition’s best guard and done some quality jobs shutting down some key players

Mens

Jawan Stepney – The steals he’s chalked up have been converted several times by Warriors offence

Trey “Walter” McBride – Gone toe-to-toe with some of the league’s best guards and setup from the defensive end of the floor his team extremely well

Alex Starling – Block parties and dominated rebounding at the defensive end of the floor

Youth Womens and Mens Medals

The Merv Harris (women) and Frank Angove (men) medals are presented to the NBL1 Central player aged Under 21 years on December 31 of the year in which the competition is played, who polls the highest number of votes towards the Halls or Woollacott medal.

Merv Harris (U21 Womens) Medal

Chloe Dumesny – Expect a set of votes in the second half of the season

Maddy Freer – The last three rounds could win it for her

Caitlin Dyer – Huge stretch from Round 12 could net her a bunch of votes

Frank Angove (U21 Mens) Medal

Lachlan Olbrich – Incredible season for his age; the very warm favourite

Luca Barei – Will poll some votes and be a strong second

Fiston Ipassou – Can he net votes with so many other guys around him, he’s been ultra-impressive in his return to the league though)

Coach of the Year

The “Coach of the Year” is awarded based on 3-2-1 votes by fellow coaches at the end of the minor rounds.

Womens

Kay-Lee Stuart – Taken the Bearcats back to the finals and top of the table.

Richard Dickel – Had plenty of things thrown at his team this season and still managed to steer them back to consecutive finals appearances.

Scott Herriman – Taken the Lions back to a competitive outfit all games in the season and to one of their most successful seasons in half a decade.

Mens

Scott Whitmore – A huge reason for the Warriors finishing top of the ladder and has balanced a very even squad.

Scott Ninnis – The Panthers first finals appearance in 14 years and been clutch in his calls from side-lines in red-time several times this season.

Dean Nyberg – Considering what they lost from their championship side, he’s managed to score back-to-back finals appearances and that should be recognised.

Phillip Yuill Medal

The “Referee of the Year” is awarded based on 3-2-1 votes by coaches at the end of the minor rounds.

Women – Danika Shepherd, Emma Caeron, Maddie Shaw 

Men – Bailey Dyer, Nathan Davis, Brandon Doctor

All Star Five – These have been selected based on the most votes in their position in the medal with three guards and two forwards per team

Women

Alex Wilson

Jasmin Fejo

Sam Simons

Ash Spencer

Mikayla Williams

Men

Adam Doyle

Jeremy Smith

Jawan Stepney

Terry Winn

Alex Starling

We all wait with anticipation of Sunday afternoon to see who will be crowned for these awards and the prestigious Halls and Woollacott Medals.

We are back to doing recaps for the NBL, Catch all the NBL1 Central Finals action this weekend on the NBL1 website, app and game of the week.

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We won't get the 15th ever back-to-back winner of the Medal in 2022, but there is no shortage of familiar names and faces up for the voting count

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Previous Winners

2012       Tom Daly (Sturt)

2013       Daniel Johnson (West Adelaide)

2014       Alexander Starling (Woodville)

2015       Matthew Lycett (Norwood)

2016      Nelson Kirksey  (Woodville)

2017       Eian Davis (South Adelaide)

2018       Alexander Starling (North Adelaide)

2019       CJ Turnage (Southern Tigers)

2022       CJ Turnage (Norwood Flames)

Did you know???

In the Mens the club who has won the most Woollacott medals is Sturt who also were United Church prior to 1972 with 12, West Adelaide and Norwood with 11. Out of the 10 current clubs, everyone has posted a winner with Steve Brekke the least recent club player to win it for Central District Lions way back in 1984. The biggest multiple winner of the Woollacott is “Chairman of the Boards” himself Mark Davis who has won it five times between 1986 and 1992 including a tie with former 36ers teammate Mike McKay in 1987. There have also been 14 back-to-back winners of the award with the most recent CJ Turnage in 2019 and 2021 and the first Don Collins for West Torrens in 1951.

The Favourites

Jeremy Smith (South Adelaide Panthers)

The runner up to Matt Lycett in 2015 fell one vote agonisingly short in the season. This time around he’s been the dominant player in most of the Panthers games and with their most successful season in 14 years; he’s the front runner. I expect him to poll 3 votes at least eight times plus a bunch of 2 voters and there’s only one consistent vote getter in his team likely to pinch off him making him a strong contender  

Adam Doyle (Forestville Eagles)

Back in the league and back in the votes after polling 34 in 2016; the superstar guard of the Eagles always catches the eye of the officials mainly from his average of 8.3 assists per game. Couple this with his 15.9 points per game, I expect he’ll poll strongly but unlike Smith have multiple Eagles grab some of the deserved 3 voters from him…

Jawan Stepney (Woodville Warriors)

Was a warm early favourite for the medal pre-season and had the complete package to win the whole thing. Obviously the top of the ladder Warriors have to have a contender and Stepney with 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists certainly fits the bill. The only thing for him similar to Doyle is that two of his teammates have had particularly good seasons and the squad overall has been very even.

The Smokeys

Terry Winn (North Adelaide Rockets)

Super super consistent through the whole season for the defending champions and produces a statline worth a look at. 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists are the kind of numbers you need to win the award; the L column for the Rockets and some of Jamar Akoh’s standout games may prevent him gaining enough to get close to Smith and Doyle but you never know.

Nik DeSantis (West Adelaide Bearcats)

Very dark horse for the medal with only injury probably robbing him of being right-up in the favourites. He’s not only hit a stackload of points but been amongst the rebounds and assists and more importantly in the wins; I’ve got him down for five 3 voters plus a bunch of ones and twos in losses. His teammate Nate Sheppard is his biggest threat and been ultra-impressive this season.

Trey “Walter” McBride (Norwood Flames)

The Flames had a big run early/mid-season and the import has been right at the front of the queue of those performances. He led his team to a bunch of wins and formed a powerful one-two punch with Ray Harding. Does he have enough in him to turn my 2 voters into 3 voters in the count itself which is the difference between a top ten finish and being right on the podium…

Keep An Eye on

David Humphries (Woodville Warriors)

Quiet underrated performer for the Warriors has had a sneakily very good season. I’ve got him down for in a majority of the Warriors wins a lot of 3 and 2 voters. Could be a mover on Sunday afternoon…

Alex Starling (South Adelaide Panthers)

You can be sure that if Smith doesn’t grab 3 votes in the Panthers wins where both have played; then Starling will have them instead. The 2014/2018 medallist and podium finisher for 2016 always attracts votes and that’s likely to be no different this season.

Lachlan Olbrich (Southern Tigers)

The Adelaide 36ers rookie has gone to another level this season and has been a strong performer in all games he’s played this season. There’s a good chance he’ll grab some 2 and 1 voters in losses as well with only an early finish possibly preventing him from a top 5 finish in the medal.

The Winner is… Jeremy Smith

Led the Panthers to their first finals appearance in 14 years and won his team a huge amount of games off his own back in the dying minutes; no arguments here

We are back to doing recaps for the NBL, Catch all the NBL1 Central Finals action this weekend on the NBL1 website, app and game of the week.

NBL1 – Australia’s League

Please continue to support SA basketball news and features content being written, with our recent influx of work we are making content all free to read again but need constant contributions to make this happen

We will have a new winner of the Halls medal in 2022 with injury, national commitments and their teams form playing an important part in determining this years award

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Previous Decade Winners

2012       Jess Mahony (Central District Lions)

2013       Jess Foley (Norwood Flames)

2014       Amy Lewis (Norwood Flames)

2015       Callan Taylor (Woodville Warriors)

2016       Olivia “Levicki” Thompson (Forestville)

2017       Alex Wilson (Eastern Mavericks)

2018       Chelsea Brook (Sturt Sabres)

2019       Carmen Tyson-Thomas (Eastern Mavericks)

2022      Teige Morrell (Southern Tigers)

Did you know???

In the Womens the club who has won the most Halls medals is North Adelaide with 10 followed by South Adelaide with 9 and West Adelaide with 8. Out of the 10 current clubs, everyone has posted a winner with Sam Woosnam the least recent club player to win it for West Adelaide way back in 2006. The biggest multiple winner of the Halls is Vicki Kelson who has won it four times in 2000, 2001 and 2005 including a three-way tie in 1999 with Narelle Lindsay and Kristen Veal.     

The Favourites

Sam Simons (Forestville Eagles)

A bit like the Forestville Eagles who took a while to get going the Merv Harris of 2021 is likely to do the same. However, come Round 4 of the countback by the delegates, the Adelaide Lightning wing is likely to poll significant votes including by my count eleven lots of three votes. From there other games even where the Eagles lost she’s still likely to grab at least a vote in those matches. Throw in that Bella Stratford and Rachael Hines are the only ones likely to pinch votes from her; she should still finish around the 30 mark and be one of the favourites.  

Mikayla Williams (Sturt Sabres)

Williams will likely lead the count from the very start of the season and in most of her games across the first half of the season where the Sabres were unbeaten, she had big numbers both in points and rebounds. I’ve got her down overall for eight lots of three votes but where she’ll catch the leader and possibly win it is she was nearly second or third best in each match regardless. With not too many likely to grab votes off her; she’s a strong chance to be wearing the Halls by the end of the afternoon.

Jasmin Fejo (West Adelaide Bearcats)

Fejo is a known vote getter having won the Merv Harris award back in 2019 and has had an incredible season after showing signs of returning to her elite best in 2021. It really will come down to the votes that are grabbed by her team-mates with Jennie Rintala likely to poll strong as well and a late season flourish from Madelynn Utti on the cards. The point guard position is often considered a key element of a team and her statistics including 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.3 steals should yield her plenty of votes; the thing to watch will be if they’ll be threes or two.

The Smokeys

Ash Spencer (South Adelaide Panthers)

Its dependant on the first nine rounds of voting during the Panthers winning streak who in the eyes of the voters saw the value in but if they did feel “Splash” deserved a bunch of threes then she’ll be right up there around the mid-point. From there if she can squeak some more out then she’s a huge chance to be there right at the end but she did miss four games which may see her finish top ten but come up short on the podium positions.  

Ally Wilson (Norwood Flames)

She’s only played 13 games this season but you can almost guarantee that she’s bound to poll votes in all games. A statline of 20.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.8 steals makes her a prime candidate. The five games missed might just see her miss out on the overall award but don’t count her out from a top three finish.  

Morgan Yaeger (Southern Tigers)

Another one who didn’t play every game but, in the end, only missed the three for the season. My only concern with her not being around the top this time is the games around Round 5-9 where just before the injury she was well held. Apart from that expect another top ten finish from the Townsville Fire combo guard.  

Keep An Eye on

Raynisha Washington (Central District Lions)

I really like this pick to watch carefully particularly across the second half of the season. I expect her to poll multiple times even in some losses for the Lions and her ability to not just put points on the board but also grab double figure rebounds consistently gets her in the eyes of the officials all the time. The losses in the end may not translate to votes but also valiant effort for a team who’s had its most successful season in a long time might as well garner some votes.  

Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu (Eastern Mavericks)

Consistently the number one player for the Mavericks through 2022. Even in losses her numbers have been huge and overshadowed the second-best players for the opposition. I’ve got her down to poll in 10 of the 18 games including a couple of small votes which in the end won’t mean she’s a contender but still finish top ten for the season.

Mollie McKendrick (Southern Tigers)

The runner up of 2016 is a proven vote getter who after Round 3 really go motoring then produced high numbers for the 2022 season back at the Cage. The Tigers will likely share votes among themselves on their second half of season run and averaging 16.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and shooting over 51 percent from the field gets eyes on you and she’s likely to pull some 3-voters throughout the count.

The Winner is… Sam Simons and Mikayla Williams

I think they’ll be a tie despite in my count Simons winning on 38 and Williams on 37

We are back to doing recaps for the NBL, Catch all the NBL1 Central Finals action this weekend on the NBL1 website, app and game of the week.

NBL1 – Australia’s League

Please continue to support SA basketball news and features content being written, with our recent influx of work we are making content all free to read again but need constant contributions to make this happen