University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
Kea Tabbed For Lieberman Award Watch List
October 22, 2018 | Women's Basketball
Springfield, Mass. — North Carolina senior Paris Kea has been named a watch list candidate for the 2019 Nancy Lieberman Award, announced Monday by The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
Now in its twentieth year, the award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered to this prestigious award, candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
A Street & Smith's Preseason third-team All-American, Kea was an Atlantic Coast Conference first team selection last year. She started all 31 games for the Tar Heels, averaging 19.4 points and 4.8 assists per game.
Kea led the ACC with four games of 30 or more points last year, and was the only player in the league to record at least 30 points and 10 assists in a game when she totaled 31 points and career-high 11 assists against South Alabama.
The Greensboro, North Carolina, native enters her final collegiate season as Carolina's all-time career scoring average leader at 18.3 points per game. Kea is just the fourth UNC player to score 1,000 points in the first two seasons with the program.
"As part of the Naismith Starting 5, the Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to annually present an award bearing the name of a trailblazing athlete and even better person – Nancy Lieberman," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Like Ms. Lieberman, these student-athletes have worked tirelessly and are very deserving of our recognition that comes with being named to this elite list of prospective award winners."
The Selection Committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Lieberman Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.
The winner of the 2019 Lieberman Award will be announced in April in Tampa, Florida, in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Final Four and WBCA Convention. Additional awards being presented include the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award, the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, as well as the Wade Trophy, the sport's oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award which is presented annually by the WBCA's community of coaches to the best player in college women's basketball. Broadcast information will be released by ESPN at a later date.
Previous winners of the Nancy Lieberman Award include Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (2018), Kelsey Plum, Washington (2017), Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut (2015-16), Odyssey Sims, Baylor (2014), Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame (2012-13), Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga (2011), Andrea Riley, Oklahoma State (2010), Renee Montgomery, Connecticut (2009), Kristi Toliver, Maryland (2008), Lindsey Harding, Duke (2007), Ivory Latta, North Carolina (2006), Temeka Johnson, LSU (2005), Diana Taurasi, Connecticut (2003-04), and Sue Bird, Connecticut (2000-02).
For more information and the latest updates on the 2019 Nancy Lieberman Award, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #LiebermanAward on Twitter and Instagram.
2019 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Candidates
Laia Raventos, Charlotte
Kennedy Leonard, Colorado
Crystal Dangerfield, Connecticut
Kelly Campbell, DePaul
Kyra Lambert, Duke
Taja Cole, Georgia
Kayla Goth, Kansas St.
Channise Lewis, Maryland
Kenisha Bell, Minnesota
Paris Kea, North Carolina
Marina Mabrey, Notre Dame
Chastadie Barrs, Lamar
Carmen Grande, Ohio St.
Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon
Destiny Slocum, Oregon St.
Jessica Kovatch, Saint Francis
Tyasha Harris, South Carolina
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse
Evina Westbrook, Tennessee
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season*
Now in its twentieth year, the award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered to this prestigious award, candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
A Street & Smith's Preseason third-team All-American, Kea was an Atlantic Coast Conference first team selection last year. She started all 31 games for the Tar Heels, averaging 19.4 points and 4.8 assists per game.
Kea led the ACC with four games of 30 or more points last year, and was the only player in the league to record at least 30 points and 10 assists in a game when she totaled 31 points and career-high 11 assists against South Alabama.
The Greensboro, North Carolina, native enters her final collegiate season as Carolina's all-time career scoring average leader at 18.3 points per game. Kea is just the fourth UNC player to score 1,000 points in the first two seasons with the program.
"As part of the Naismith Starting 5, the Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to annually present an award bearing the name of a trailblazing athlete and even better person – Nancy Lieberman," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Like Ms. Lieberman, these student-athletes have worked tirelessly and are very deserving of our recognition that comes with being named to this elite list of prospective award winners."
The Selection Committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Lieberman Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.
The winner of the 2019 Lieberman Award will be announced in April in Tampa, Florida, in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Final Four and WBCA Convention. Additional awards being presented include the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award, the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, as well as the Wade Trophy, the sport's oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award which is presented annually by the WBCA's community of coaches to the best player in college women's basketball. Broadcast information will be released by ESPN at a later date.
Previous winners of the Nancy Lieberman Award include Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (2018), Kelsey Plum, Washington (2017), Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut (2015-16), Odyssey Sims, Baylor (2014), Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame (2012-13), Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga (2011), Andrea Riley, Oklahoma State (2010), Renee Montgomery, Connecticut (2009), Kristi Toliver, Maryland (2008), Lindsey Harding, Duke (2007), Ivory Latta, North Carolina (2006), Temeka Johnson, LSU (2005), Diana Taurasi, Connecticut (2003-04), and Sue Bird, Connecticut (2000-02).
For more information and the latest updates on the 2019 Nancy Lieberman Award, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #LiebermanAward on Twitter and Instagram.
2019 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Candidates
Laia Raventos, Charlotte
Kennedy Leonard, Colorado
Crystal Dangerfield, Connecticut
Kelly Campbell, DePaul
Kyra Lambert, Duke
Taja Cole, Georgia
Kayla Goth, Kansas St.
Channise Lewis, Maryland
Kenisha Bell, Minnesota
Paris Kea, North Carolina
Marina Mabrey, Notre Dame
Chastadie Barrs, Lamar
Carmen Grande, Ohio St.
Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon
Destiny Slocum, Oregon St.
Jessica Kovatch, Saint Francis
Tyasha Harris, South Carolina
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse
Evina Westbrook, Tennessee
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season*
Bill Belichick Coach's Corner - Episode 6 - October 15, 2025
Wednesday, October 15
MBB: Jarin Stevenson Intro Press Conference
Tuesday, October 14
Bill Belichick Pre-Cal Press Conference - October 13, 2025
Tuesday, October 14
Carolina Insider - Interview with Jarin Stevenson (Full Segment) - October 13, 2025
Monday, October 13