ROTNEI Clarke has completed a remarkable season transformation by taking out the Illawarra Hawks MVP award on Friday night.
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However, Clarke was not in attendance at the gala dinner, as he left the country earlier in the week to prepare for a late-season stint with Italian Lega A club Consultinvest VL Pesaro, near San Marino.
It is the second time Clarke has taken out the Hawks top honour, after previously winning in 2013-14, when he was also named the NBL’s best.
Clarke came under fire after returning to Wollongong as an import, after the exit of fellow NBL MVP Kevin Lisch to arch-rivals Sydney.
After struggling for form early on, Clarke was moved to the bench by coach Rob Beveridge, which transformed his season and helped lift the Hawks to the NBL grand final series.
Clarke scored 31 points in game three of the championship series against Perth, but the Hawks were swept away by a 45-point haul from the Wildcats’ US star Bryce Cotton.
The 27-year-old Butler College product is expected to return to the club again next season, after initially signing a two-year contract.
Beveridge said Clarke thoroughly deserved the Hawks MVP award.
“It’s fantastic, we have a lot of belief in his ability,” Beveridge said.
“He’s a great guy, really it was just about finding the right role for him in this team.
“It’s amazing what happens when you give people support rather than pressure.
“Even thought we might not have won the title, we saw what Rotnei is capable of.”
Having previously played in Belgium and Germany, Clarke finished the Australian season as the Hawks leading scorer, averaging 17.41 points, as well as 2.79 assists.
AJ Ogilvy led the way for rebounds, with 7.59 per game.
Clarke also took out the Hawks members best player award, while Mitch Norton was unsurprisingly named best defensive player.
The Hawks finished fourth this season, before stunning the first-placed 36ers in the deciding game three in Adelaide to make the grand final series. After conceding 89-77 to Perth at WIN Entertainment Centre, the Hawks lost 95-86 in game three.
- ILLAWARRA HAWKS
Awards night winners for season 2016-17
Most Valuable Player: Rotnei Clarke
Best defensive player: Mitch Norton
Coach’s award: Kevin White
Community player award: AJ Ogilvy
Club person of the year: Matt Flinn
Members MVP: Rotnei Clarke
Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
