Tall Fern Charlisse Leger-Walker receives MVP and Female of the Year

Charlisse Leger-Walker.
Korea v New Zealand, FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Amman, Jordan on 27th September 2021.
Photo supplied and credit: FIBA
Photo: © FIBA 2021

The annual Basketball New Zealand Award on Saturday night handed out 24 prestigous awards, recognising athletes achievements in the 2022 season.

Tall Fern Charlisse Leger-Walker received MVP for the year and Female Player of the year. The 22-year-old had an outstanding year at NCAA College basketball and Tall Ferns.

Leger-Walker debuted for the Tall Ferns at the 2018 Commonwealth games at the age of 16-years-old winning a bronze medal against Canada.

The Waikato born basketball player was joint top scorer of 18 points, averaging 4.2 rebounds and 11.3 points per game.

Male Player of The Year was awarded to Isaac Fotu, following his performances both in the top tier of the Japan League. Including, his achievement in Tall Blacks who qualified for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The 29-year-old was the Tall Blacks leading rebounder and second highest scorer at the 2019 World Cup in China. Averaging 18.4 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Dontae Russo-Nance wins Male Junior of the Year for the second year in a row. He has also been selected to compete in the Basketball Without Borders Global (BWB) camp in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The former Saint Kentigern student was one of two players from the Southern Hemisphere to be selected within the 40 top international prosepects.

BWB is a global basektball programme that helps develops elite athletes outside the U.S system. The players will have first hand experience with world-class players and coaches, including competing against top global players in front of the NBA, WNBA and FIBA organisations.

The 2022 World Champiohips representative Maia Jones also took out the Female Junior Player of the year.

Bronewen Davidson claimed the Female Coach of the Year and Freg Brockbank won Male Coach of the Year.

-RNZ