All-Aussie Hoops Australia Team selections - December 2008

by Mike Green (AussieHoopsAmerica.com contributor)

Time to put words behind the numbers; these monthly selections take into account many factors including players individual performance, how the player's school is performing, strength of schedule and conference, and individual honours the player may have earned over the month. The All-AHA teams (NCAA D1 unless noted) for December are:

Men's

1. Patrick Mills (Sophomore Guard, St Marys): He certainly isn't experiencing a second year hangover, leading his team in any way they need him. St Marys sit on top of the WCC having only lost one game, due to the growing leadership of Mills and courtesy of poor performances by Gonzaga. Pat has won 2 WCC Player of the Week awards and expect things to get tougher for the Gaels with key games on the road against San Diego (Jan 22) and Gonzaga (Jan 29).

2. Luke Nevill (Senior Centre, Utah): Big Luke is leading his inconsistent team in scoring, rebounds and double doubles. His team seems to have turned the corner recently taking care of #17 Gonzaga after embarrassing losses including to D2 school, Southwest Baptist. Luke has won 2 MWC Player of the Week awards so far and is in early consideration for MWC All-conference honours. The Utes face a January with 7 conference games, 5 of these at home and 6 against teams with better records, and a tough non-conference challenge against LSU on January 6.

3. A.J. Ogilvy (Sophomore Centre, Vanderbilt): Another 2^nd year player that hasn't slowed his production and seems to have grown with the departure of Shan Foster. Vanderbilt won their first 10 games last year with Foster and Ogilvy being credited mostly for their start. This year the Commodores have dropped 3 games so far and face a tough 8 game January schedule with 5 games on the road. A key match-up will be the home game v #14 Tennessee on January 20.

4. Ben Magden (Junior Forward, Augusta State NCAA D2): South Australian Magden leads his Jaguar team with the goal of returning to a D2 Championship game. They have only lost one game and play in one of the toughest conferences; Currently ranked #7 nationally, Augusta State is ranked 2^nd in their conference with 10 games scheduled for January. They play #2 USC-Aiken twice during the month, at home on the 5^th and on the road on the 19^th with these results expected to shape the Jags year.

5. Cameron Gliddon (Freshman Guard, Columbia University NAIA D1): After red-shirting last year, West Australian Gliddon has immediately added to an already strong Eagles outfit. Nationally Ranked #4 Concordia plays in the tough GSAC and have only lost one game against #7 Westminster. Concordia plays the only other GSAC ranked opponent on January 3 in a home match-up against #12 Azusa Pacific.

Honourable mentions:

Aron Baynes (Washington State) – Powerful inside player for a team struggling to score;

Nate Tomlinson (Colorado) – Having a great freshman year in a struggling team;

Ryan Bathie (Nicholls State) – Leader on Aussie-laden team, playing a weaker schedule this year;

Jesse Wagstaff (Metro State, NCAA D2) – Two Player of the Week awards for the Canberra senior;

Anatoly Bose (Nicholls State) – Super athlete right at home in the college game.

Women's

1. Tegan Cunningham (Junior Guard/Forward, Oklahoma State): The Cowgirls Cunningham is the 3^rd leading scorer on the team who have only had two losses this year, one of those against #4 ranked Duke. Victorian Cunningham, sister of Dandenong WNBL player Caitlin, is enjoying her 3^rd year in College basketball after transferring from Seward County Community College. Key games for the Cowgirls are away games at Iowa State on January 10 and at #7 Baylor on January 17.

2. Emma Langford (Freshman Forward, Wyoming): Highly recruited Langford is living up to her reputation having a stellar freshman season at Wyoming. The South Australian playing alongside a number of other Aussies leads the team in most statistical categories and is an early consideration for all-conference and possibly NCAA freshman honours. Wyoming plays 7 games in January, none against ranked opponents. Their first test against a ranked opponent comes early in February against #25 New Mexico.

3. Alison Lacey (Junior Guard, Iowa State): Canberra-born PG Lacey leads her team in assists and is third on PPG. Plays in a tough conference on a well-supported team that's just starting to get recognition. The Cyclones play the last of two non-conference games against #20 ranked Vanderbilt and IPFW in January, followed by 5 conference games including 2 against #22 Kansas State, #21 Oklahoma State, and # 7 Baylor. If they can come out of January with results against these opponents, they are sure to be ranked come tournament time.

4. Hayley Munro (Sophomore Forward, Fresno State): Another second year player who seems to be growing and producing even more. With increased time due to injuries in her team, Munro is gaining a solid reputation as a player of the future. Playing in a weaker conference, the Bulldogs should return to a stronger position after the return of some players. January is solid and the key-game for them will be against Utah State with their two Aussies, Alice Coddington and Stacey Howard, on February 1.

5. Louella Tomlinson (Sophomore Centre, St Mary's): After setting the most blocks record in the WCC last year, Big Lou is continuing her dominance inside with points and rebounds and of course blocks which she leads the NCAA in. Her team is really struggling having only recorded 3 wins, however should improve on this once they enter conference play in January. Tomlinson recorded the first triple double of her college career in a loss against Boise State on December 29, an effort which rewarded her WCC Player of the Week honours. St Mary's toughest game in January is against Gonzaga on January 24.

Honourable mentions:

Kylie Morrissy (Troy) – Senior who leads the Aussie-dominant Trojans in Points;

Micaela Cocks (Oregon) – Kiwi Junior who leads her under-performing Ducks in the tough Pac-10

Ellie Manou (Oregon) – Fighting injuries in her second year, she makes a difference when fit;

Diana Neves (Vanguard NAIA D1) – Super scorer from Queensland who's lighting it up in Cali.

Sarah Ilic (Hawaii) – Improving 2^nd year player, team is struggling to get it done.