MARYBOROUGH’S basketball star Matthew Dellavedova capped an outstanding 2009 by being named Basketball Australia’s junior male player of the year.The skilful guard, who graduated from Maryborough’s junior competition and the Bendigo Braves, was captain of Australia’s team as last year’s world under-19 championships.Dellavedova and his Emus teammates finished the world titles campaign in fourth place.Later in the year he made his senior Australian debut for the Boomers.Dellavedova played a key role in the Boomers first-game win at the Oceania championships against New Zealand.The young gun shut down Tall Blacks star Kirk Penny, who was the reigning National Basketball League most valuable player.Dellavedova played in the Boomers win in the Stankovic Cup in China, and was named in the All-Star Five.A previous winner of the junior male player of the year award was Boomers guard Patrick Mills.The 2009 female junior player of the year was centre Liz Cambage.A great year for Cambage included being selected in the All-Star Five as the Australian Gems finished fifth at the world under-19 titles.Cambage marked her Opals debut at the Oceania championships and will play a key role for Australia at this year’s world titles.