University of North Carolina Athletics
Breland, Lucas On Naismith Preseason List
November 18, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2009
ATLANTA - North Carolina senior forward Jessica Breland and junior guard Italee Lucas were named to the 2009-10 Naismith Trophy preseason watch list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday. Connecticut's Maya Moore seeks to become the first player ever to win two Naismith trophies in high school and college, and the junior forward headlines list. Moore won the Naismith National High School Girl's Player of the Year award in both 2006 and 2007 at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga., and claimed the college award this past March.
The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2009-10 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T will be awarded at the 2010 NCAA Women's Final Four in San Antonio, Tx.
"The competition this year seems to be at an all-time high, and there are numerous candidates who have the opportunity to showcase their abilities throughout the season," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. "Once the games start it will become clearer who emerges as the leading candidate to claim the Naismith Trophy, the most prestigious award in college basketball."
Since 2005, presenting sponsor AT&T has set the standard in allowing fans to participate in determining the trophy winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25% of the final results - more than any other national college basketball award.
"AT&T is proud to help recognize these outstanding athletes and their impressive achievements with this highly-regarded award," said Tim McGhee, executive director, AT&T corporate sponsorships. "Through AT&T's text message voting program, we're inviting college basketball fans - some of the most passionate fans in sports - to make their opinion count in determining this year's award recipient."
In late February, the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors will compile a mid-season team of the Top 30 players in the nation. Then in March, the Naismith Trophy voting academy will vote to narrow the list to the four finalists.
Others to accomplish the dual-level feat of winning both a high school and college Naismith Trophy include Connecticut's Diana Taurasi (2000 in high school; and both 2003 and 2004 in college), Tennessee's Tamika Catchings (1997, 1998; 2000), Candace Parker (2003 and 2004; 2008) and Chamique Holdsclaw (1995; 1998 and 1999) and USC's Lisa Leslie (1990; 1994). The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to college basketball's player of the year. For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
