BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - St.Kitts basketball star Nashorn “Big Nash” Maynard was among honourees at the recently held University of Alaska Fairbanks All-Sports Banquet in Alaska USA.
Nashorn, a junior forward for the Nanooks men’s basketball team, received the Harris Shelton Spirit of Competition Award. The 6-foot-5 former St.Kitts Amateur Basketball Association MVP and national team member , was Alaska’s top rebounder at 8.8 rebounds per game and the third-leading scorer at 13.7 points per game during the 2009-10 season.
Maynard who plays in the SKABA league with the St.Pauls Tuff Knots was recruited by Coach Clemon Johnson midway through the 2007-2008 season after leading his St.Pauls Tuff Knots to a spectacular season which culiminated with their first SKABA title in 2007. Since then the athletic forward has become a critical component of the Nanooks basketball team.
In his first season Nashorn saw time in nine games, including three starts, after joining the Nanooks in mid-season. He averaged 4.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, recording 12 steals as well. He grabbed team season-high 17 rebounds against Saint Martin's on March 8 and recorded his first career 10-point game against Western Washington on Feb. 16 of 2008 and ended the season by being awarded the team's Sixth Man award.
During the 2008-2009 season Maynard became a dominant force as he finished 2nd in conference for rebounding grabbing 8.8 rpg. He led Alaska in rebounds 19 times and earned GNAC(Great Northwest Athletic Conference) Academic All-Conference honors.
The 2009-2010 season has been Nashorn’s most successful having gained GNAC All-Conference Team Honorable Mention in addition to being the GNAC Player of the Week for Feb. 8-14. He is 11th in GNAC in scoring averaging 13.7 points per game and 2nd in conference for rebounds with 8.8 per game.
Maynard leads the team in field goal percentage with a .495 and blocked shots with 30 during season. He averaged 1.8 steals per game. His best games for the season came on Feb. 5, 2010 with a huge double double against Central Washington with 29 points and 10 rebounds and on Feb. 11, 2010 another double double against Western Washington with 30 points and 12 rebounds on Feb. 13, 2010.
Nashorn was recently instrumental in the Alaska Nanooks recruitment of fellow St.Pauls Tuff Knots forward Javid Williams who was just signed as the Nanooks first signing for the 2010-2011 season. Williams is expected to pick up where Maynard leaves off as the 2010-2011 season will be his final with the Nanooks.
