The Continental Basketball Association Rookie of the Year was an annual award given to the best rookie(s) of the regular season of the CBA. The award was given to players on their first CBA season and with no prior professional experience.

History The award was established in 1957, when the league was operating under the name Eastern Professional Basketball League. The first winner was Dick Gaines, from Seton Hall. In 1970 the league changed its name, becoming the Eastern Basketball Association. In 1975–76, for the first time in CBA history, the award was shared by two players: Mo Rivers (from NC State) and Walter Luckett (from Ohio). In 1977 a new award, the Newcomer of the Year, was created: while the Rookie of the Year was given to players on their first season with no experience in professional leagues, the Newcomer of the Year was given to players who already had professional experience. In 1996–97 the award was shared by Bernard Hopkins (from VCU) and Jason Sasser (from Texas Tech): Sasser was also called up in the NBA by the San Antonio Spurs. In 2001–02 Rookie of the Year Kenny Inge had started the 2001-02 season with BC Žalgiris in Lithuania, and joined the Rockford Lightning of the CBA on December 20, 2001. Only two players won the Rookie of the Year award and the Player of the Year award during their career: Julius McCoy (Rookie of the Year in 1959, Player of the Year in 1966) and Ken Wilburn (Rookie of the Year in 1967, Player of the Year in 1968 and 1974).

Key ^Denotes player who simultaneously won CBA Most Valuable Player/Player of the Year Award Denotes player whose team won championship that yearRefReferencePlayer (X)Denotes the number of times the player has been named MVPTeam (X)Denotes the number of times a player from this team has won

Table Season Player Position Nationality Team Ref 1957–58 Dick Gaines Guard Easton Madisons 1958–59 Julius McCoy Forward Williamsport Billies 1959–60 Alonzo Lewis Guard Sunbury Mercuries 1960–61 Dave Gunther Forward Williamsport Billies (2) 1961–62 Jim Huggard Guard Sunbury Mercuries (2) 1962–63 Emerson Baynard Forward Sunbury Mercuries (3) 1963–64 Ken Rohloff Guard Sunbury Mercuries (4) 1964–65 Swish McKinney Guard Wilmington Blue Bombers 1965–66 Bob Love Forward Trenton Colonials 1966–67 Ken Wilburn Forward Trenton Colonials (2) 1967–68 Don Carlos Guard/Forward Hartford Capitols 1968–69 Richie Cornwall Guard Binghamton Flyers1969–70 Eddie Mast Forward Allentown Jets 1970–71 Charlie Wallace Guard/Forward Trenton Pat Pavers 1971–72 Craig Mayberry Forward Hartford Capitols (2) 1972–73 Vincent White Forward Garden State Colonials 1973–74 Dennis Bell Forward Allentown Jets (2)1974–75 Aulcie Perry Center Allentown Jets (3)1975–76 Mo Rivers Guard Lancaster Red Roses Walter Luckett Guard Long Island Sounds 1976–77 Major Jones Center Allentown Jets (4) 1977–78 Bill Terry Guard Shore Bullets 1978–79 Billy Ray Bates Guard Maine Lumberjacks 1979–80 Edgar Jones Center Lehigh Valley Jets1980–81 Lee Johnson Center Rochester Zeniths 1981–82 Larry Spriggs Forward Rochester Zeniths (2) 1982–83 Mike Sanders Guard Montana Golden Nuggets 1983–84 Greg Jones Guard Wisconsin Flyers 1984–85 Eric Turner Guard Detroit Spirits 1985–86 Michael Adams Guard Bay State Bombardiers 1986–87 Ron Rowan Guard Topeka Sizzlers 1987–88 Jamie Waller Guard Quad City Thunder,Charleston Gunners 1988–89 Daren Queenan Guard Charleston Gunners (2) 1989–90 Clifford Lett Guard Pensacola Tornados 1990–91 Stephen Thompson Guard Rapid City Thrillers 1991–92 Marcus Kennedy Forward/center Grand Rapids Hoops 1992–93 Gerald Madkins Guard Grand Rapids Hoops (2) 1993–94 Alphonso Ford Guard Tri-City Chinook 1994–95 Kendrick Warren Forward Rockford Lightning 1995–96 Ray Jackson Forward Grand Rapids Mackers (3)1996–97 Bernard Hopkins Forward Yakima Sun Kings Jason Sasser Forward Sioux Falls Skyforce1997–98 Alvin Sims Guard Quad City Thunder 1998–99 Bakari Hendrix Forward Quad City Thunder (2) 1999–2000 Jamel Thomas Guard/Forward Quad City Thunder (3) 2000–01 2001–02 Kenny Inge Forward Rockford Lightning (2) 2002–03 Immanuel McElroy Guard Grand Rapids Hoops (4) 2003–04 David Bailey Guard Idaho Stampede 2004–05 Jackie Butler Forward/center Great Lakes Storm 2005–06 Roger Powell Forward Rockford Lightning (3) 2006–07 Travis Garrison Forward Great Falls Explorers 2007–08 Anthony Washington Forward/center Yakama Sun Kings (2)

References

External links EPBL/EBA/CBA Superlatives Eastern Basketball Association Rosters