2023-2024 ACAC Women's Overall Rookie of the Year

Nuku led her Lakeland Rustlers to a perfect 20-0 season in the regular season, 3-0 in the ACAC playoffs, and finished off the perfect season by going through the National Championship tournament with another three wins, finishing the year with a National Gold medal.

The starting point guard averaged 14.2 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 5.5 assists per game, and 2.8 steals per game. She led the ACAC in total assists, assists per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio.

Nuku started all 20 games for the Rustlers and averaged 27.2 minutes per game during the regular season, 33 minutes in the ACAC playoffs, and 30 minutes per game at the National Championship. In addition to an impressive stat line, she was tasked with guarding the opposing team’s top players each game.

She was acknowledged for her efforts, receiving a CCAA All-Canadian award and being announced as the CCAA’s Top Female Basketball Player in the country. At the National Championships, she was also announced as a tournament all-star.

“Hineaupounamu has been a dynamic playmaker for our team all season and is a huge reason for the success we have had to this point," commented Chris King, Lakeland’s Head Coach. “She brings energy and excitement to the gym every day with her magnetic personality. The progress she has made in her freshman season has been outstanding.”

Hineaupounamu is from Tauranga, New Zealand, and is currently enrolled in the Business Administration diploma program at Lakeland. She was also a Captain of New Zealand’s U15 Oceanic team and awarded an All-Star 5 at the FIBA Oceania Championships Tournament in 2018.

This prestigious award is sponsored by Vereburn Medical Supply.