He's impressed Hawks fans with his work at the defensive end of the floor this season, and Antonius Cleveland's performances are gaining recognition outside of Wollongong.
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The 28-year-old was on Thursday morning announced as one of three nominees for the NBL's Damian Martin Trophy for Defensive Player of the Year. Past winners include Darnell Mee, Glen Saville and Justin Simon.
Cleveland has averaged 6.19 rebounds 1.15 blocks and nearly two steals per game in his inaugural Illawarra campaign. He will vie with Illawarra product Xavier Cooks (Kings) and Melbourne United's Shea Ili for the prestigious 2021/22 honour.
Cleveland was one of two Hawks to be nominated for major awards this season, with Xavier Rathan-Mayes also in the running for Sixth Man of the Year - which recognises the best performing reserve player of the regular season. Past winners include Adris De Leon, Kevin Tiggs and Rotnei Clarke.
Rathan-Mayes has averaged 10.31 points, 4.35 rebounds and 4.19 assists per game in his first season in Wollongong. He is up against Ili and Tasmania's Clint Steindl for the award.
Elsewhere, Bryce Cotton will look to defend his crown as the NBL's Most Valuable Player. The Wildcats star will look to secure his third straight Andrew Gaze Award, and his fourth in the past five years, but is up against strong competition from Sydney's Jaylen Adams and Jo Lual-Acuil from Melbourne United.
In the other award categories, Sydney's Chase Buford, Melbourne United's Dean Vickerman and JackJumpers mentor Scott Roth will vie for the Lindsay Gaze Coach of the Year honour, while Taipan Bul Kuol, Perth's Luke Travers and New Zealand's Ousmane Dieng are up for Rookie of the Year.
All award winners will be announced on Wednesday, April 27, live on ESPN.
Other awards to be announced include Most Outstanding Media Coverage, Referee of the Year, Gametime by Kmart Award, Fans MVP, First Team, All-NBL Second Team and Executive of the Year.
"It has been one of the most memorable NBL seasons in our recent history and we congratulate all of the finalists for maintaining such an incredible standard in what's been another challenging campaign in so many ways," NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said.
"The quality of basketball has gone to another level and that is clearly reflected in the calibre of all our finalists, as well as our unprecedented audience growth and media coverage.
"We look forward to what promises to be a fantastic night and the opportunity to celebrate a great regular season, ahead of one of the most hotly anticipated finals in recent memory."
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