Atlanta Tipoff Club Announces Naismith High School Player, Coach of the Year Finalists
The top prep basketball players and coaches in the country are poised to become the newest additions to the Naismith Awards family as the Atlanta Tipoff Club today announced the finalists in those categories.
ATLANTA (Feb. 17, 2011) – The top prep basketball players and coaches in the country are poised to become the newest additions to the Naismith Awards family as the Atlanta Tipoff Club today announced the finalists in those categories.
The finalists were chosen by leading basketball journalists from around the country who form the national voting academy and identify players and coaches under consideration for these awards. The winners will be recognized by the Atlanta Tipoff Club at its season-ending Naismith Awards Banquet on March 21 in Atlanta.
“The talent at the top is so close that it's really going to be tough to decide. There are several strong candidates and their late-season performances probably will create an edge for the winners. The same goes for the coaches, because there are some very worthy candidates who are having great years,” said Dave Krider, MaxPreps senior writer. “The Naismith name speaks for itself. However, I applaud the Atlanta Tipoff Club for honoring high school basketball players since 1987, as well as collegians. Having chosen past winners such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi shows that the selection committee has been right on the money.”
2011 Naismith Boy’s High School Player of the Year Finalists
Name |
School
|
Hometown
|
College Choice
|
|
Anthony Davis
|
Perspectives Charter School
|
Chicago, Ill.
|
Kentucky
|
|
Michael Gilchrist
|
St. Patrick High School
|
Elizabeth, N.J.
|
Kentucky
|
|
James McAdoo
|
Norfolk Christian
|
Norfolk, Va.
|
North Carolina
|
|
Austin Rivers
|
Winter Park High School
|
Winter Park, Fla.
|
Duke
|
|
Marquis Teague
|
Pike High School
|
Indianapolis, Ind.
|
Kentucky
|
2011 Naismith Girl’s High School Player of the Year Finalists
Name |
School
|
Hometown
|
College Choice
|
|
Cierra Burdick
|
Butler High School
|
Matthews, N.C.
|
Tennessee
|
|
Krystal Forthan
|
Georgetown High School
|
Austin, Texas
|
LSU
|
|
Ariel Massengale
|
Bolingbrook High School
|
Bolingbrook, Ill.
|
Tennessee
|
|
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis
|
Mater Dei High School
|
Santa Ana, Calif.
|
Connecticut
|
|
Elizabeth Williams
|
Princess Anne High School
|
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
Duke
|
The Naismith High School Player of the Year award was first presented in 1987 to Dennis Scott of Flint Hill Prep (Oakton, Va.), who later starred at Georgia Tech and with the Orlando Magic in the NBA. Other notable winners include Jason Kidd (1992, St. Joseph Notre Dame High School, Alameda, Calif.), Kobe Bryant (1996, Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, Pa.), LeBron James (2003, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, Ohio) and Derrick Favors (2009, South Atlanta High School in Atlanta, Ga.). Last year’s boy’s winner was Jared Sullinger (Northland High School, Columbus, Ohio) and the girl’s winner was Chiney Ogwumike (Cy-Fair High School, Houston, Texas).
The Naismith High School Coach of the Year Award has been presented since 2008. The annual winners are chosen by the Naismith national voting academy.
2011 Naismith Boy’s High School Coach of the Year Finalists
Name |
School
|
Hometown
|
|
David Boyd
|
Milton High School
|
Alpharetta, Ga.
|
|
Kevin Boyle
|
St. Patrick High School
|
Elizabeth, N.J.
|
|
Bob Hurley
|
St. Anthony High School
|
Jersey City, N.J.
|
|
Sharrief Metoyer
|
Long Beach Poly
|
Long Beach, Calif.
|
|
Robert Smith
|
Simeon High School
|
Chicago, Ill.
|
2011 Naismith High Girl’s School Coach of the Year Finalists
Name |
School
|
Hometown
|
|
Stan Benge
|
Ben Davis High School
|
Indianapolis, Ind.
|
|
Kevin Kieran
|
Mater Dei High School
|
Santa Ana, Calif.
|
|
Jeff Sink
|
Brea Olinda High School
|
Brea Olinda, Calif.
|
|
Anthony Smith
|
Bolingbrook High School
|
Bolingbrook, Ill.
|
Last year’s boy’s winner was Satch Sullinger (Northland High School, Columbus, Ohio) and the girl’s winner was Sean Casey (Peddie School, Highstown, N.J.).
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
