1:04PM...AD on the boards...With the season in the books, I thought I’d give out my season awards to this year’s team. Although the team did not perform as well as they had hoped to this season, there were many positives that came out this year and lots of reasons to look forward to 2008-09. Here we go!
Most improved player: David Bailey…this was an easy pick. The 6-foot-9 forward from Prince Georges CC took on a starter’s role, something that he has not done previously in his career and gave it his all on both ends of the floor. Bailey showed immense improvements in various parts of his game this year. In his third season with the Nighthawks, Bailey posted career highs in almost every statistical category averaging 10.6 ppg, a team-high 7.6 rpg, and just under 1 bpg. He started the season off with a double-double (10 points and 15 rebounds) and had 5 more double-doubles on the season. Bailey is one of the most aggressive rebounders in the game and if he can develop a consistent mid-range jumper, he will be an All-Star for years to come.
Sixth Man of the Year: Derick Payne…Although Payne cracked the starting lineup towards the end of the year, this true small forward built like an ox is deserving of sixth man of the year honors. Payne was one of the most consistent scorers on the Nighthawks and filled up the stat sheet across the board each and every night. Payne averaged 16.6 ppg and tallied double-figures in 13 of his 16 games with a season high 27 points against the Razorsharks. He topped the 20-point mark six times and showed vast improvements to his game as the season progressed. Payne vouched at the end of the season that he will be back for another exciting season. Should be very exciting to watch this fearless up-and-coming dynamic forward!
Defensive Player of the Year: Germel Stoute…plain out beast! This 6-foot-9 255lb forward/center came all the way from Trinidad to play for the Nighthawks. With a body built like Aristotle and game similar to former NBA star Charles Oakley, opponents feared to drive the paint. Stoute posted solid numbers across the board with 8.2ppg and 5.8 rpg while leading the team in fg% at 55%. Germel started the season off slow but earned his way into the starting lineup and finished the season scoring in double figures six out of the last seven games.
Offensive Player of the Year: Randy Gill…known to most of the world as “White Chocolate,” Randy at times seemed like he was from planet Mars heating up the scoreboard. This 6’2” shooting guard posted a 17.1 scoring average to along with a solid 4.2 rpg and 4 apg. Gill posted a career-high and PBL single-game record of 45 points against the Razorsharks on Feb 24 and finished with 37 points in the Nighthawks second round playoff game. Gill also set a Nighthawks record with 8 3-pointers made in a game. Gill is a competitor and does not like to lose, look for this flashy veteran to start next season just where he left off!
MVP: Warren Jefferson…this was a tough-choice just because there were a number of players who were well deserving of this honor, but from a team’s perspective, the Nighthawks floor general, Warren “D-Nice” Jefferson got the slight edge. Jefferson posted impressive numbers coming from the point guard position with 14.1 ppg 3.9 rpg, 3.8 apg. When D-Nice was rolling, the Nighthawks were rolling. Jefferson proved he could run and control a team on both ends of the floor. Jefferson scored 20 or more points six times this season including career-high 29 in a win against the Chicago Throwbacks. Jefferson’s tremendous efforts were seen just as much on the defensive side as this pesky-speedy guard averaged 2.1 steals and gave offenders a difficult time. His trademark was forcing a steal, using his speed to go coast-to-coast and converting on the other end of the floor. Jefferson has a feel for the floor and always manages to find the open-man to knock down the big shot. Warren Jefferson, M-V-P!
