Suns guard Luke Stewart has claimed his first MVP nod of the DUNK Basketball Uniforms Premier League following end-of-season awards voting by representatives of each competing team.

Having been named to the competition’s All-League 1^st Team twice previously, Stewart (45 points) finished a small margin ahead of Nate Wilkins (39), who was the competition’s inaugural MVP and has also been an All-League 1^st Teamer in each of its first three season.

Fellow Suns guard Ethan Fleming (34) was a big mover and placed third in his first season as an award winner. Away from the pack and rounding out the top five was last season’s MVP Dennis Thornton (24) and Sio ‘Beast Mode’ Maiava (23).

Known widely as the ‘Golden Child of Northside’, Stewart also cleaned up in Defensive voting, topping the tally count for the third successive year after registering 23 points. All-Defensive Team staples Wes Rand (16), Dennis Thornton (13) and Steve ‘Step Into The Ass’ Allan (6) earnt their third successive thumbs-up with Brendale Bobcats newcomer Hayden Burrow (6) joining the group.

Most Valuable Player – Luke Stewart (Suns)

All-League First Team – Luke Stewart, Ethan Fleming, Dennis Thornton (Suns), Nate Wilkins (Regulators), Sio Maiava (Brendale Bobcats)

All-League Second Team – Ivan Pajnic (Regulators), Wes Rand, James Rosenow, Zac Williams-Hook (Raptors), Josh Potter (Phoenix)

All-Defensive Team – Luke Stewart, Dennis Thornton (Suns), Wes Rand (Raptors), Steve Allan (Regulators), Hayden Burrow (Brendale Bobcats)

Also received votes

All-League: Josh Pittle, Fraser Lowrie (Suns), Luke Pittle (Phoenix), Dave Partridge, Matt Donaldson, Hayden Burrow, Mick Cutcliffe, Sam Hay (Brendale Bobcats), Steve Allan (Regulators), Chris Charlton (Huskies)

All-Defensive: Josh Potter (Phoenix), Sio Maiava, Sam Hay (Brendale Bobcats), James Rosenow, Zac Williams-Hook (Raptors), Nate Wilkins (Regulators), Josh Pittle, Fraser Lowrie (Suns)

The league now goes into finals mode as of this coming Monday 13^th June with this first round of semi-finals taking place. All eyes are on the high-flying Raptors to see if they can halt a Suns three-peat, but it will also be interesting to see what fight the Bobcats and Regulators after finishing a clear 3^rd and 4^th over the regular season.

6:30pm – Raptors (1) v Suns (2)

7:45pm – Brendale Bobcats (3) v Phoenix (4)

The DUNK Premier League is the Northside Wizards’ premier senior men’s competition. The new   season will commence on Monday 11^th July with the Grand Final on Monday 12^th December. Please direct all enquiries to the Competitions Manager via email to comps@northsidewizards.com or phone 3325 5474 during regular business hours. Team nominations are accepted online only by following this registration link.