This award recognizes improvement and development in players throughout the 2006 regular season. To be eligible to win this award, players must have Australian Basketball Nationality and be under the age of 21 at the conclusion of the ABA season. It is not a requirement to be a first year player.

Patrick Mills of the Australian Institute of Sport has been named the winner of the 2006 SEABL East Men Australian Youth Player of the Year. Adam Gibson of the Hobart Chargers and Jenna O'Hea (Nunawading Spectres) has also been rewarded, earning the Award in their respective conferences.

Finishing the season as the Conference third best in assists, averaging 4.37 per game and finishing fourth in the Golden Hands Award, Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder Patrick Mills wins the 2006 SEABL U/21 Australian Youth Player of the Year award. Mills averaged 18.1 points and 3.9 rebounds.

Mills helped the AIS to a 16-10 regular season record, grabbing third position, behind a 12 game winning streak mid way through the year. Mills received a total of 27 votes and is the eighth AIS player to receive this award, behind current Boomers Andrew Bogut and Brad Newley and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Jacob Holmes. Mills has had a busy year with a trip to the Nike World Summit in USA, and many camps with the Australian Boomers team.

Mills recorded double digit points in all but two games this season with a season high 25pts, 2rebs, 4ass and 4stls recorded in round 2 versus Kilsyth. Patrick produced a season best eight assists in three games this season.

Jenna O'Hea received 41 out of a possible 48, including 12 first place votes from a panel of coaches and captains from all Women Teams and was by far the standout youth player in the League. Jenna is the fifth player from Nunawading Spectres to win the award.

19-year-old O'Hea has had a standout season, her third in the SEABL. Jenna finished the season with averages of 17.1ppg (6th), 8.7rpg (8th), 3.7apg (5th), 2.9spg (4th). Jenna recorded 20 or more points nine times during the 2006 season, with a season best 27 points in round 13 and 14. O'Hea also received Player of the Week recognition in round 14, averaging 21pts, 8rebs, 3ass, 2blks and 2stls and helping her team record a successful 2-0 week.

Due to commitments with the Australian Sapphires O'Hea was unable to participate in the finals, but played a vital role in getting her team to the playoffs. Jenna has been a pivotal player for the Spectres, recording 8 double double games (double figures in points and rebounds).

In his third season in the SEABL, Adam Gibson wins the South Men Australian U/21 Youth Player of the Year Award. Adam has been a valuable contributor for the Chargers this year and finished the season averaging 19.5pts, 4.2rebs, 4.3ass and 1.6stls. Adam received Player of the Week recognition for round 7, averaging 29pts, 6rebs and 2ass, helping the Chargers to a successful 1-1 road trip on the mainland.

Gibson, a graduate of the highly successful Australian Institute of Sport basketball program scored 20+pts on 7 occasions with his season high of 36pts versus Mt Gambier in round 16. Adam received 31 votes, beating Knox Raiders Sean Carroll to the award by 12 votes.