The first of these awards goes to Keith Price. Seven years ago Keith Price was approached by the patron of the Hawkes Bay Hawks NBL basketball club expressing concern over the fact that the club had major financial issues and would not be able to stay in the NBL.
Soon after the approach he agreed to join the board and was appointed chairman tasked with keeping the Hawks competing in the National League. Keith is a Napier City Councillor and a true blue sports person with rugby his first passion. However Hawkes Bay only has three codes that compete at a National Level and one of those is basketball. He began a crusade to ensure the basketball franchise remained competing at that level alongside Rugby and Football.
Over his first two season the aim was to get a team on the court and pay off money owed.
The first season the Hawks didn’t win a game and the second season won just four. But more importantly the Hawks stayed in the league and became financially secure. This was done by getting members of the community and friends to support the club in various ways but most importantly financially. Since then they have been very competitive. Making top 6 and higher each season.
Keith retired from the Board at the start of the year “leaving the franchise in a very strong financial position”.
From 2018 to 2023 Keith was also a member of the NBL Board and the Chair of the Basketball Hawkes Bay Board – a position he still holds.
Long time Hawks player and current GM of the franchise Jarrod Kenny had this to say:
“Keith’s determination and leadership has taken the Hawks from the brink of receivership to regular championship contenders. Without Keith volunteering an enormous amount of time it is safe to say the Hawks would be in a different place today”.
Keith Price is a deserving recipient of the Cedric Cudby Award. Unfortunately Keith could not be with us tonight so accepting this award on his behalf is Tim Baker, G.M of Hawke’s Bay Basketball.
