Season Award Predictions

MVP: Bradley teDuits

Many view Bradley as the most skilled player in the league which could come as a surprise as just a year ago he led his team with 0 points and 1 technical foul in the most important game of his season. When you look at his team however it is evident he will need to step up and put up big numbers if this team is going to win as you can't imagine Colin tossing hand grenades at the hoop will get them the points they need to go the distance. Bradley should be able to guard just about anyone in this league and it's hard to bet against him scoring 20+ a game, which if this team goes as far as we predict them to, should be enough to win himself the MVP award. 

Other potential contenders: Derek Caruso, Will Bordes, Sammy Eggiman, 

Defensive Player of the Year: Colin (Quail) teDuits

It's quite scary to think Colin and his less handsome brother could take home the 2 most prestigious awards this league has to offer, but it's a very real possibility. He is practically useless when it comes to offense, but you can bet on a quiet day for whoever he is guarding on the other end of the floor. Colin is known for sending poor small freshman's shots miles into the stands and pick pocketing just about anyone who tries dribbling by him. His incredibly lanky arms and aggressive mentality on the defensive side of the ball leaves him in the discussion for DPOY every season and if he could pull it together on offense, he could easily be in the MVP talks as well. 

Other potential contenders: Sammy Eggiman, Jacob Strauss, Cole Connerty, Simon (Handsome) Chandler

Rookie of the Year: Evan Laudenslager

This is another one of those tough awards as no one really knows how this batch of freshman will play until the season stars, but Evan Laudenslager looks to be the early candidate for ROY. In evals he showed some maturity and the confidence that not to many could handle and could end up being one of the most impactful freshman we'll have the pleasure to watch this year. He is not one of the taller freshman and it's possible he doesn't quite have the muscle to hang with the upperclassman, but we hope he proves us wrong.

Other potential contenders: Rhein Stelzer, Jimmy Anzivino, Will Vogel, Nate Spinale, 

Sixth Man of the Year: Joseph Pang

This man knows how to be heard by his team mates, his clapping from the corner can be heard by anyone who is near the Lawrence Academy gym in the early hours of Sunday morning each week. Joseph Pang is known for his lethal 3 ball and when he gets his shot up you almost know it's going to fall. He could be the key for team teDuits to get them over the hump this year and secure them a championship. 

Other potential contenders: Ryan Taylor, TJ Sannazaro, Dylan Cianci, Ethan Ebersman, Rhein Stelzer

Most Improved Player: Jon Eisenklam

Jon has what many of the athletes this season don't have. The height. He's a slept on man mountain and has the potential to really break out this year and be a star. He's on a team full of players that can be labeled average at best and a breakout from Jon could be what this team needs to pull them off the bottom. Word on the street is he suffered from a scary back injury that we all hope he recovers from in time for week one, but we also hope he takes as long as he needs to nurse that precious back of his all the way to full strength.

Other potential contenders: Alex Caruso, Ivan Sturm, Richard Silva, Ethan McNamara

Worst Player: Ryan Bernard

It is a bit of a mystery why team Bonaventura drafted Ryan Bernard. The only logical reasoning is that they wanted his younger brother and he got dragged along with him. Most coaches wouldn't draft Lebron James had he been in the draft if it mean't they had to draft Ryan Bernard as well. Time will tell if he's gotten better since last year, but Ryan Bernard you are truly a poison to team Bonaventura. His jump-shot is terrible and he's constantly getting blocked and handing the ball back to his opponent.

Other potential contenders: Will Kenny, Sam Smethurst,

Worst Shot Form: Will Kenny

This goes hand and hand with the worst player award so it is no surprise to see Will Kenny and Ryan Bernard's names pop up again in this section, but our favorite has to be Will Kenny. It is truly a mystery how he started shooting the ball like this, but we would be shocked to see a single shot fall this season. He takes his shots like he's trying to make a bridge between a soccer throw in and a basketball shot. Let's just hope he can pull it together for team Cianci/Hanneman because as far as were concerned, he could be about as useful as a lamppost out on the court.

Other potential contenders: Colin teDuits, Zach El Masri, Ryan Bernard, 

Coach of the Year: Jarboe

This is the obvious tough one each year, but Mr Jarboe has the resume to back it up. He is the only coach that has a championship to his name and his pure passion for the sport is normally replicated by his team who often put in great performances. Only time will tell if he will be bringing the trophy home for another year. 

Other potential contenders: Mcnamara (Has to deal with Castelano, good luck)

  

Most likely to be the first to dunk this season: Jared Phelps/Sammy Volante

There have been many rumors circling around the rec league that the boxtroll has been spending countless hours in the gym bouncing between the leg press and the box jumps. It will not come as a surprise if he's throwing down everything from windmill dunks to between the legs posterizers. If it wasn't for Sammy Volante's sneaky hops, the boxtroll would be the odds on favorite without any doubt, but Sammy's also looking scary good. 

Other potential contenders: Derek Caruso, Simon Chandler

Best Foreigner: Paul Waltz/ Harald Gemmel

These two players are both foreigners who may have never touched a basketball before showing up to the GD Rec league. They are both starting from scratch and are a real unknown for mostly everyone in the league. Both are tremendous athletes and have all the room to grow in the world and if they hit there maximum potential from there size and athletic prowess, they can easily be huge impact players for their respective teams. It should be a amazing battle to see who pulls this one out. A battle between Germany and Sweeden, soccer and football, Paul and Harald, good luck to the both of you.

Other potential contenders: None