ELENA DELLE DONNE AND BRANDON JENNINGS NAMED 2008 NAISMITH NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Bob Hurley and Brian Harrigan Claim Inaugural Coach of the Year Honors
ATLANTA (March 5, 2008) – Elena Delle Donne, of Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Del., and Brandon Jennings, of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., have been named the 2008 Naismith National High School Basketball Players of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. Bob Hurley (St. Anthony High School, Jersey City, NJ) and Brian Harrigan (Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, San Francisco, Calif.) were selected as the first-ever recipients of the Naismith National High School Coach of the Year award.
The winners, who will be honored at the Atlanta Tipoff Club Naismith Awards banquet March 25 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, were selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, a collection of leading basketball journalists and administrators from around the country, based on their performances this season. The Naismith Trophy, presented annually to the top girl’s and boy’s high school players and coaches in the country, is the most prestigious national award in high school basketball.
“Talent aside, these are the premier student-athletes in all of high school basketball, and very deserving of the Naismith Trophy,” Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. “The way they conduct themselves both on and off the court is something to behold.”
A 6-5 senior guard, Delle Donne averaged 30 points, 11 rebounds and three assists during the regular season, leading the Raiders to a 15-6 record and a Catholic Conference co-championship (5-1 record), even after missing 10 games because of mononucleosis. On Jan. 27, Delle Donne became Delaware's all-time leading scorer for boys and girls with 2,475 points. She has a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society.
“Elena is the most skilled offensive basketball player I have ever seen,” said Fran Burbidge, Ursuline head basketball coach. “That being said, she is a better person than she is a basketball player.”
Jennings, a 6-0 guard, posted 33 points, 10 steals and eight assists in the Warriors’ 59-48 season-ending victory over Montrose Christian (Md.), as Oak Hill finished the season 34-4. For the season, Jennings averaged 35.5 points per game and amassed 1,312 total points.
"Brandon is one of the quickest point guards to ever play for me,” said Steve Smith, Oak Hill head basketball coach. “His presence and talent will truly be missed."
Now in his 18th season Harrigan has led the Fightin' Irish to a 29-0 regular season record thus far and a No. 1 ranking in USA Today. Overall, his squads have won nine consecutive Central Coast Championships and back-to-back California state championships (also won in 1998). He previously coached at St. Rose Academy in San Francisco for nine years and has an overall coaching mark of 565-172.
Hurley has coached St. Anthony for 35 years, compiling a 901-101 record, making him the winningest high school basketball coach in New Jersey history. During that time his teams have won 22 State Parochial titles and captured mythical national championships in 1989 and 1996. This season the Friars are 28-0 and currently own a No. 1 ranking in USA Today.
Past Naismith Trophy winners have set a precedent for excellence at the college and professional levels and that group includes Lisa Leslie (1990), Chamique Holdsclaw (1995), Diana Taurasi (2000), LeBron James (2003), Dwight Howard (2004) and Greg Oden (2006).
Maya Moore, of Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga., and Kevin Love, of Lake Oswego High School in Lake Oswego, Ore., were the 2007 winners. Delle Donne, like Moore, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball next year at the University of Connecticut. Jennings will play basketball for the University of Arizona.
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 has presented the Naismith Trophy since UCLA’s Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969.
The Naismith Awards program has become an emblem of excellence for the game, recognizing the Men’s and Women’s College Player of the Year, Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and overall contribution to the game.