BasketBall Connect

With the CBA season coming to an end the Association named the Best Rookie, the Best Coach and the Best Defensive Player of the Year. The Yakama Sun Kings centre Anthony Washington (6'9''-F/C-83, agency: Duran International, college: Portland St.) received the Best Rookie of the Year award. The Portland State graduate averaged 7.0 points and 3.6 boards per game in his initial season. He also shot 68% from the field and blocked 1.2 shots per appearance. Anthony Washington was accompanied by Marcus Heard (6'7''-F-84, agency: 540 Sports, college: De Paul) and Mike Crain (6'2''-G-84, college: Valdosta St.) of East Kentucky, Tyrone Anderson (6'4''-G-84, agency: TASM, college: Concord) of the Pittsburgh Xplosion and Bilel Simmons (6'6''-G-83) from the Atlanta Krunk for the place in the CBA All-Rookie Team.
The Yakama Sun Kings' Paul Woolpert was named the CBA Coach of the Year. He steered the Sun Kings to a 43-5 record and set the record of wins in 48-games regular season. For the third consecutive season, and forth in his coaching career, Woolpert was named the 2008 CBA All-Star Classic head coach of the CBA's National (Western) Conference. Woolpert guided his All-Stars to a 109-107 victory. His record of 248 career victories placed him at the fifth spot in the CBA all-time coaching win list.
Meanwhile the Oklahoma Cavalry forward Marvin Phillips (6'7''-F-83, college: Claflin) was voted as the Best Defensive Player of the Year. Marvin Phillips averaged 10 boards, 1 block and 1 steal per game in the season. He joined the Cavalry this season coming from Albany. Harvey Thomas (6'9''-F-82, college: Baylor) of Yakama, Ronnie Fields (6'4''-G-77, agency: Edge Sports) and Sidney Holmes (6'7''-F-82, college: Lewis) of Minot and Steve Thomas (6'8''-F-81, agency: Promotex, college: Middle Tenn.St.) from East Kentucky joined Marvin Phillips for the CBA All-Defensive Team.
Earlier the CBA announced that James Jackson (5'10''-G-89) from the East Kentucky Miners was chosen as the Newcomer of the Year. He averaged 21.4 points and 10.4 boards per game winning to player of the week awards during the season.