Atlanta Tipoff Club Announces Naismith
Boy's High School Watch List
ATLANTA (Dec. 11, 2009) – Ten high school seniors, including two headed to play college basketball next season at North Carolina, headline the Naismith Trophy Boy’s High School Player of the Year watch list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today.
The watch list was comprised by leading basketball journalists from around the country who form the national voting academy, and identify players under consideration for this award.
In February, the voting academy will narrow the list down to five candidates, with the winner being selected and recognized by the Atlanta Tipoff Club at the end of the high school basketball season.
“This is a phenomenally talented group of student-athletes, all of whom should go on to achieve tremendous successes both on and off the court,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. “One of them will have the privilege of joining the esteemed Naismith Trophy family,” and we look forward to seeing who emerges as the winner.”
2010 Naismith Boy’s High School Player of the Year Watch list:
| Last name |
First Name
|
School
|
City
|
State
|
Position
|
Class
|
College
|
|
Barnes
|
Harrison
|
Ames
|
Ames
|
Iowa
|
Guard
|
Senior
|
North Carolina
|
|
Sullinger
|
Jared
|
Northland
|
Columbus
|
Ohio
|
Center
|
Senior
|
Ohio State
|
|
Knight
|
Brandon
|
Pine Crest
|
Fort Lauderdale
|
Florida
|
Guard
|
Senior
|
Undecided
|
|
Selby
|
Josh
|
Lake Clifton
|
Baltimore
|
Maryland
|
Guard
|
Senior
|
Undecided
|
|
Irving
|
Kyrie
|
St. Patrick
|
West Orange
|
New Jersey
|
Guard
|
Senior
|
Duke
|
|
Harris
|
Tobias
|
Half Hallow Hills West
|
Glen Head
|
New York
|
Forward
|
Senior
|
Tennessee
|
|
Jones
|
Perry
|
Duncanville
|
Duncanville
|
Texas
|
Forward
|
Senior
|
Baylor
|
|
Barton
|
Will
|
Brewster Academy
|
Wolfboro
|
New Hampshire
|
Guard
|
Senior
|
Memphis
|
|
Thompson
|
Tristan
|
Findlay Prep
|
Henderson
|
Nevada
|
Forward
|
Senior
|
Texas
|
|
Bullock
|
Reggie
|
Kinston
|
Kinston
|
North Carolina
|
Guard
|
Senior
|
North Carolina
|
“Perhaps the most prestigious of high school awards, the Naismith Player of the Year has an impressive list of candidates in 2010,” said Jerry Meyer, Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Analyst. “Only the best of the best make this 10-man list.”
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, Cal.), Kobe Bryant (1996, Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, Pa.), LeBron James (2003, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, Ohio) and last year’s winner Derrick Favors (South Atlanta High School in Atlanta, Ga.).
The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the top prep basketball player of the year. For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, an Atlanta Sports Council property, is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club, founded in 1956, has presented the Naismith Trophy since UCLA’s Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. The Naismith Award has become an emblem of excellence for the game, recognizing the outstanding achievements of men and women players, coaches, officials and overall contribution to the game.