SYDNEY, Australia - Former Nicholls State University basketball player Anatoly Bose was named the National Basketball League Rookie of the Year today. In his first year in the professional ranks, Bose averaged 15.5 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game and 1.5 assists for the Sydney Kings.

Bose, the Nicholls career leader in games played, finished with 68 votes beating out his next closest competitor by 30 total votes in the final balloting.

“I have really enjoyed my rookie year with the Sydney Kings and I am already looking forward to returning to the basketball court for the 2012-2013 season in October,” Bose told SydneyKings.com.

The 6-7 scoring threat finished his Nicholls career as the third player ever to finish with over 2000 points in a career, and is third all-time in scoring with 17.1 career average.

The Kings finished the season 11-17 on the year and seventh in the IINET NBL Championship.