University of North Carolina Athletics
Hatchell, Latta Named Naismith Finalists
March 23, 2006 | Women's Basketball
March 23, 2006
ATLANTA -- North Carolina women's basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell and junior guard Ivory Latta have been named as finalists for prestigious Naismith honors.
Hatchell is among four finalists for the Naismith Award, which goes to the national coach of the year. Also on the list are LSU's Pokey Chatman, Ohio State's Jim Foster and Maryland's Brenda Frese.
Latta is one of four finalists for the Naismith Trophy, which goes to the national player of the year. She is joined on the final ballot by LSU's Seimone Augustus, Oklahoma's Courtney Paris and Rutgers' Cappie Pondexter. Winners of both awards will be recognized at the Naismith Awards Banquet on April 7 in Atlanta.
The finalists were chosen through a vote by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, who narrowed the mid-season lists of 20 coaching candidates and 30 player candidates down to the final four in each category. The Board, which is comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country, based its criteria on player performance this season.
Fans can help select the winner of the player of the year honor, with fan voting accounting for 25 percent of the selection process. To vote, fans can text message "VOTE" to "87654" to receive the final ballot and participate in the voting process. Voting for the Naismith Trophy Women's College Basketball Player of the Year award will end on Saturday, April 1 at 9 p.m. ET.
