Hawke’s Bay basketballer Jackson Ball nets second schools sports award

Jackson Ball won the individual male award and the NBHS basketball team, of which he is a member, won the team award. Photo / Photosport

Tall Blacks and Hawke’s Bay Hawks basketballer Jackson Ball has signed off one part of his career and logged on for another just days apart on either side of the Tasman.

On Wednesday, he claimed the Hawke’s Bay Secondary School Sports Awards’ Male Sportsperson of the Year title for the second time, and on Saturday he scored his first points for summer club and 2024-25 Australian NBL champions Illawarra Hawks.

In action with the club as a development player ahead of the New Zealand season and the teen’s subsequent move to the University of Wisconsin in the US, Ball had 12m 27s on court for four points.

But the Hawks, with 2025 Hawke’s Bay Hawks Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Daniel Grida also on the team, were beaten 116-76, their fourth loss in five games, leaving the side at the bottom of the 10-team competition.

Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools Sports Awards Female Sportsperson of the Year and All-rounder of the Year Caitlin Kirk, of Central Hawke's Bay College, with awards guest speaker and recently-retired New Zealand Warriors and international rugby league star Tohu Harris, of Hastings. Photo / CHB College

Multi-talents were a theme of the night at the schools awards, with Central Hawke’s Bay College student Caitlin Kirk named the Female Sportsperson of the Year for her achievements in cross-country, athletics, triathlon and aquathlon.

The Central Hawke’s Bay Sports Awards were held last month, but there has still been no announcement on the future of the Hawke’s Bay Sports Awards, which were postponed indefinitely in April.

2025 Hawke’s Bay Secondary Schools Sports Awards

Male Sportsperson of the Year: Jackson Ball (Napier Boys’ High School) – basketball.

Female Sportsperson of the Year: Caitlin Kirk (Central Hawke’s Bay College) – cross-country, athletics, triathlon, aquathlon.

Male All-rounder of the Year: Jyde Lowe (St John’s College) – multisport, cycling, cyclocross.

Female All-rounder of the Year: Caitlin Kirk (Central Hawke’s Bay College) – cross-country, athletics, triathlon, aquathlon.

Athlete With a Disability of the Year: Luis Douglas (Havelock North High School) – athletics, cross-country.

Coach of the Year: Aidan Daly (Napier Boys’ High School) – basketball.

Team of the Year: Napier Boys’ High School – Senior A Premier basketball.

Student Official of the Year: Te Waihanea Tupe-Crichton (Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ngati Kahungunu ki Heretaunga) – basketball.

Student Coach of the Year: Amy Alexander, Pippa Fleming, Katie Donnelly (Taradale High School) – canoe polo.