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Troon star Ross Campbell has been named Scotland men’s Player of the Year – a week after withdrawing from Scotland's team. Due to university committments, the Tornadoes ace was forced to pull out of coach Toni Szifris’ initial party for this summer’s European Promotions Cup despite leading the Ayrshire outfit to the Scottish League title but was a unanimous selection by the media selection panel.
One of three talented brothers on the Troon team, but their outstanding playmaker, Campbell also has also represented Scottish Universities this season and has been selected to the British University Select team.
There was also a special award for Outstanding Achievement given to University of Illinois star Robert Archibald who is hoping this summer to become only the third Briton to play in the NBA. "All members of the voting panel were agreed that Robert's achievements in putting Scottish basketball on the map in the United States deserved special recognition," said committee chairman Gordon Scott.
The 6ft 11in centre, who will graduate in May after helping the University of Illinois to the "Sweet 16" of the prestigious NCAA tournament, certainly fits the bill.
Players of the Year
Senior Men: Ross Campbell (Troon)
Senior Women: Lauren Walker (Edinburgh)
Junior Men: Nick Collins (St Mirren)
Junior Women: Fiona McCusker (Denny)
Cadet Boys: Scott Frew (Troon)
Cadette Girls: Natalie Chaloner (St Mirren)Coach of the Year: Robert Taft (St Mirren)
Outstanding Achievement: Robert Archibald (Illinois)
Lifetime Achievement: Danny Kaye
Lifetime Achievement: Bill McInnes OBEArchibald, the son of former Scotland and GB cap Bobby, also helped his college team, dubbed the Fighting Illini, retain a share of the prestigious Big Ten Conference league title.
His picture appeared in leading magazine Sports Illustrated and games featuring the University of Illinois received national television coverage in the United States. However, the Scot now faces an anxious wait to see if he will be picked in the annual Draft in July, having been mentioned as a possible recruit for the Toronto Raptors.The panel also decided to make two Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The first went to Dnny Kaye, who has given his life to Scottish basketball in his many roles as professional administrator, referee, table official, game commissioner, commentator, statistician and historian. Now aged in his 70s, Kaye remains league secretary for the Lothian Basketball Association and is still an active referee.
Bill McInnes received an OBE in the Queen's honours last year for his services to Scottish basketball. A former international player, capped 126 times for Scotland and 49 times for Great Britain, McInnes has also been secretary of Boroughmuir Basketball Club for nearly 40 years.
In addition to his club service, McInnes has held key roles in the Scottish Basketball Association for nearly 20 years, currently as Chairman and always in a voluntary capacity.
"Players come and go but both these individuals, through their selfless dedication to the sport, have helped form the backbone of Scottish basketball for nearly half a century," said Rodger Thompson, Chief Executive of basketballscotland. "Recognition from their sport they serve in Scotland is long overdue."
In addition to the three discretionary awards, the panel also made annual awards to the Scottish Player of the Year in six categories, and to the overall Coach of the Year.
Lauren Walker, 22, collected the Senior Women's Player of the Year award after a season in which her individual talent and competitive drive helped lead a transitional City of Edinburgh Kool Kats team to the Scottish Cup final.
The Junior Men's award went to Nick Collins, 17, who finished top scorer for a St Mirren Reid Kerr College team which finished the season as Under-18 League champions and Scottish Cup runners-up. Early in the season, Nick was also a part of the Scotland team which won silver at the European Promotions Cup.
The outstanding player of the season at Junior Women's level was Fiona McCusker, 17, who captained the Denny Devils to an unbeaten league and cup double. McCusker is captain of Scotland's Junior Women's side and, just this week, scored 17 points in a 50-48 win over England.
Another player excelling internationally was 15-year-old Scott Frew, who made a major contribution to Scotland's first win over Ireland for 20 years at under-16 level. Domestically, Frew helped Troon upset cadet league champions St Mirren in the Scottish Cup final.
There was no stopping St Mirren at cadette girls level, however, and Natalie Chaloner, 15, was named Cadette Player of the Year for her role in the league and cup-winning team.
Chaloner was also one of the outstanding player for Scotland in the Cadette Four Countries International Tournament.The Coach of the Year award, given to the Coach who has made the most significant contribution to the development of individuals, a team or a club within Scotland was awarded to St Mirren Junior Men coach Robert Taft. His efforts helped a hard working team pip the arguably more talented Arbroath Musketeers to win the Junior Men National League.
Taft also made a significant contribution as Assistant Coach of Scotland's Junior Men team, winning a silver medal in the European Promotions Cup.Copyright Britball. Download is subject to Britball's Terms and Conditions