Tom Yawney
Sports Reporter

One of the biggest athletes at Humber has taken home one of the biggest awards.
Six-foot-eight basketball player J.R Bailey was named Humber’s male athlete of the year for 2009-2010.
“It’s a big shock, there are so many great athletes here I really didn’t expect it,” Bailey said after being announced the winner at the athletic banquet last Friday.
Winning athlete of the year marks the end of an interesting basketball journey.
Bailey attended the University of Victoria for one year out of high school, then came to Humber for one year before attending the University of Guelph for two years.
He returned to Humber last fall and said that playing OCAA basketball again was a strange experience.
“It was definitely a bit surreal because I’m a bit older than most of the people here,” said Bailey, 27.
Bailey led the OCAA champion Hawks in points, rebounds and blocks this season.
Varsity basketball co-ordinator James DePoe said Bailey’s experience was a huge asset when the team’s three captains were suspended for an off court incident after winning the provincial championship.
“When we had our trouble in March, he went from averaging 13 points per game to 20, and it just showed what he was capable of,” DePoe said.
“He was a leader in the room and a veteran presence that younger guys learned from.”
In this, his last year of athletic eligibility, Bailey helped Humber to a bronze medal at nationals in Calgary last month.
Humber athletic director Doug Fox announced Bailey as athlete of the year and said there were at least three people who could have won.
Fox refused to give names, but said it was tough decision for the varsity athletic staff to make.
“We look at the players academically, we look at if they were OCAA all-stars, if they were all-Canadian, and also the success of the team and their impact on it.”
Bailey, a journalism student, was a first team OCAA West all-star, and CCAA first team championship all-star.
He said winning the award is a great way to finish his basketball career.
“I’ve been at three post secondary institutions and Humber is by far my favourite,” said Bailey.
I am really shocked to win but it’s a nice ending – and it’s a nice trophy to put on my mantle.”