Warrnambool's Nicole Hunt WNBL Rookie of the Year
Warrnambools Nicole Hunt has been named the 2007/08 Australian Defence Force Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) Bettie Watson Rookie of the Year. The 18-year-old point guard scored 245 points at an average of 10.2 points per game and tallied 98 assists at 4.1 per game - equal third in the league - and 86 rebounds at 3.6 rebounds per game.
All major ADF WNBL winners from the 2007/08 season will be presented their awards at a special Grand Final luncheon this Saturday. Hunt was instrumental in the Institute's eight wins this season, netting ten or more points on 11 occasions, highlighted by a season high 23 points (8-of-14 shooting) against Bendigo in Round 15 - the same round she received her inaugural Nivea Player of the Week award. She also dished off four or more assists in 12 games - including seven assists in five games and a career high ten against Adelaide in Round 14.Hunt joins an illustrious group of past players to have received the Youth Player of the Year/Bettie Watson Rookie of the Year Award.
They include former Australian Defence Force Opal captain Trish Fallon (1990), current Opals captain Lauren Jackson (1997), world champion Opal Laura Summerton (2001/02), and last year's winner Cayla Francis (2006/07).
In 1988, the Youth Player of the Year was first awarded to Lucille Hamilton of the AIS then in 1995 the award became known as the Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award in recognition of Watson's years of dedication to the Australian women's national team and for her part in helping found the WNBL. Prior to 1995 the Betty Watson Award for Rookie of the Year was known as the Youth Player of the Year award.
The Bettie Watson Rookie of the Year Award is determined by a poll of the head coach, assistant coach and team captain from all WNBL clubs, where voters are not allowed to vote for members of their own team.
Youth Player of the Year
1988 - Lucille Hamilton (AIS)
1989 - Renae Fegent (AIS)
1990 - Trish Fallon (AIS)
1991 - Michelle Brogan (Adelaide City Tigers)
1992 - Allison Cook (Melbourne Tigers)
1993 - Allison Cook (Melbourne Tigers)
1994 - Maryanne Difrancesco (Melbourne Tigers)
Bettie Watson Rookie of the Year
1995 - Chika Emeagi (AIS)
1996 - Jessica Bibby (Dandenong Rangers)
1997 - Lauren Jackson (AIS)
1998 - Andrea Cartledge (Melbourne Tigers)
1998/99 - Caitlin Ryan (Dandenong Rangers)
1999/00 - Shelley Hammonds (AIS)
2000/01 - Laura Summerton (AIS)
2001/02 - Alison Downie (Dandenong) and Kamala Lamshed (Adelaide)*
2002/03 - Kelly Wilson (AIS)
2003/04 - Kathleen MacLeod (AIS)
2004/05 - Renae Camino (AIS)
2005/06 - Abby Bishop (AIS)
2006/07 - Cayla Francis (AIS)
2007/08 - Nicole Hunt (AIS)
Congratulations Nicole from all at Warrnambool Basketball
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