Move over Steve Nash!
Talk about making the most of what you were given! At five-foot-four, graduating Simon Fraser point guard Lani Gibbons wasn't exactly handed the greatest physical tools to succeed in basketball. Yet, she not only ended her remarkable university career with the Nan Copp Award as CIS player of the year, she will go down in history as one of the best passers to play CIS ball.
The native of Salmon Arm, B.C. had to pay her dues when she joined the Clan in 2003-04, two years after perennial powerhouse Simon Fraser captured its first national banner since joining CIS from the NAIA.
Playing behind all-star Dani Langford, Gibbons appeared in 13 games overall as a freshman, then saw her court time increase to 22 minutes per outing in a sophomore season that culminated with the Clan's second Bronze Baby Trophy triumph in Winnipeg, where Langford closed out her varsity career with CIS championship MVP honours.
Gibbons took over as starting point guard in 2005-06 and the Clan offence didn't miss a beat, finishing among the top three in CIS scoring three years running, including at a pace of 82 points per duel this season. Gibbons played the most minutes for SFU every year she was a starter and led the nation in assists per game three straight campaigns, including a career-high 8.2 average in 2006-07, when the Clan once again took the Bronze Baby back to Burnaby.
"Lani is a poised, confident player who's able to score or distribute the ball at the appropriate times. She also has an uncanny ability to get rebounds for a small player; she just has a nose for the ball," said SFU coach Bruce Langford.
Added teammate Kate Hole: "I would toss around the clichéd 'determined', 'focused', 'dedicated' to describe Lani but I don't think it does her justice. I'm thinking more 'relentless' because she's like a little terrier, she'll drive into people six feet taller than her and get slammed three or four times in a row just to get a call or look for the right pass."
The ultimate team player, Gibbons was very humble upon receiving the Nan Copp Award.
"I'm honoured and a little shocked. I always find individual awards to be about so much more than just the individual, I think this award is a reflection of the team, the coaching staff and everyone who's helped me get to where I am now."
Gibbons’s Accomplishments: |
