Former UALR standout and current Los Angeles Laker guard Derek Fisher will receive the 2010 sportsman of the year award at the sixth annual L.A. Sports Awards on Feb. 24 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The award, given by the Los Angeles Sports Council, honors the local male athlete whose performance and character best exemplified the ideals of sportsmanship during the calendar year. The council will also name a sportswoman, coach, and sports executive of the year.

The Los Angeles Sports Council is a non-profit civic organization whose primary purpose is to promote economic development through sports in the Los Angeles/Orange County area.

Previous LASC sportsman of the year winners include Matt Leinart (2005), Elton Brand (2006), David Beckham (2007), Kobe Bryant (2008) and Paul Gasol (2009).

Fisher, the 1996 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, is a five-time NBA World Champion and current president of the National Basketball Players Association.  The Little Rock native and Parkview High School graduate was selected with the 24th overall pick of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Fisher has served on the “It’s Time for UALR” campaign steering committee and recently appeared in a UALR television ad promoting the development effort: