Giants’ import is MVP
Vaudreuil polled 175 votes to lead last night’s count at the Tower Hotel from fellow American Michael Haney, who was thwarted in his bid for a third successive MVP award with 121 votes.
It was a bittersweet victory just two days after the Giants bowed out of the State Basketball League playoffs, losing their best-of-three quarter-finals series 2-0 to Willetton.
Standing at 203cm, Vaudreuil first came onto the Giants’ radar last December. Team officials watched Vaudreuil play in Perth with the touring American outfit, Athletes In Action, and were suitably impressed. They chased his signature through an overseas agent before finally putting pen to paper in late January.
Vaudreuil was the latest import to win the Brad French Medal as MVP, an award which has been won by Australian players just six times since the Giants’ inception in 1990.
The forward/centre from Minnesota led the Giants in scoring, rebounds and blocks in his debut SBL season and was ranked in the league’s top-10 in those three statistical categories.
The 24-year-old had a season high 29 points and 17 rebounds against Rockingham in June. In 28 games, Vaudreuil averaged 19.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
Haney, a member of the Giants’ 2007 and 2008 championship teams, also collected three statistical awards last night after leading the club in assists, steals and field goal shooting percentage.
Guard Jimmy Bowler had one of his best seasons in leading the Giants’ shooting percentage for free throws and from beyond the three point line. Bowler was also the recipient of life membership after surpassing 200 games for the club earlier this season.
In the MVP voting, swingman Matt Leske fared the best of the Australian players with 92 votes after a breakout season. Leske, who was appointed vice captain in February, averaged a career-high 13.4 points this season.
Russell Hurst was the recipient of the Scruth family award.
Scott Manton, whose various roles within the club include development coach and membership coordinator, was named the Noelene James clubperson of the Year.
Article by Jarrod Lucas (Kalgoorlie Miner)
Photo by Travis Anderson (Andmedia/Sports Vision)
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