ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB ANNOUNCES NAISMITH HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESEASON WATCH LISTS

ATLANTA (Dec. 15, 2011) – With two boys and two girls on the Naismith High School players of the Year preseason watch list, Texas is home to top high school talent in 2012, the Atlanta Tipoff Club today announced.

In total, 13 candidates – 12 seniors and one junior – are vying for the most coveted high school award nationwide. The list also includes two players each from Nevada and Illinois. Of those who have chosen a college, four will play in the Big East, three will play in the PAC 12 and two will join the Big 12.

The players were selected by basketball journalists from around the country, who form the Naismith Awards national voting academy. The selections were based on player performances last season and expectations for the 2011-12 campaign. One male and one female ultimately will be selected as winners, and they will be recognized by the Atlanta Tipoff Club at its season-ending Naismith Awards Banquet on March 22 at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta.

“Naismith High School Players of the Year have gone on to achieve monumental accolades, including national championships, NBA and WNBA championships and even gold medals,” said Eric Oberman, Executive Director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “We’re extremely excited to watch this year’s nominees battle it out for the right to be called the best high school basketball player of 2012.”

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 in the NBA. (add female winner, too). Other notable winners include (1992, St. Joseph Notre Dame High School, Alameda, Calif.), (1996, Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, Pa.), LeBron James (2003, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, Ohio) and (2009, South Atlanta High School in Atlanta, Ga.). The girl’s award was first given to Lynn Lorenzen (Ventura High School, Ventura, Iowa), and has since been awarded to such notable players as (1990, Morningside High School, Inglewood, Calif.), (1995, Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y.), (2003, Naperville Central, Naperville, Ill.) and (2006 & 2007, Collins Hill High School, Suwanee, Ga.).

Last year’s boy’s winner was (Winter Park High School, Orlando, Fla.) now playing at Duke and the girl’s winner was Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana, Calif.), who currently plays at UConn.

For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.

2012 Naismith Boy’s High School Player of the Year Watch List Last Name First HS City Stat Class College Choice Name e Muhamma Shabaz Bishop Gorman Las Vegas NV 2012 Undecided d z Anderson Kyle St. Anthony Jersey City NJ 2012 UCLA Ashley Brando Findlay Prep Henderson NV 2012 Arizona n Smart Marcus Flower Mound Flower TX 2012 Oklahoma State Marcus Mound Austin Isaiah Mansfield Grace Burleson TX 2012 Baylor Prep Poythress Alex Clarksville Northeast Clarksville TN 2012 Kentucky

2012 Naismith Girl’s High School Player of the Year Watch List Last First High School City Stat Class College Choice Name Name e Stewart Breanna Cicero-North Syracuse Syracuse NY 2012 UConn High Jefferson Moriah Home School Glenn TX 2012 UConn Heights Jones Alexis MacArthur H.S. Irving TX 2012 Duke Loyd Jewell Niles West H.S. Lincolnwoo IL 2012 Notre Dame d Adams Jordan Mater Dei H.S. Irvine CA 2012 USC Tuck Morgan Bolingbrook Bolingbrook IL 2012 UConn DeShield Diamond Norcross Norcross GA 2013 s

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 during the 1956-57 season, has presented the Naismith Trophy every year since UCLA’s Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. Old Dominion’s won the inaugural Women’s Naismith Trophy in 1983.

The Naismith Award has become the most prestigious award in all of college basketball, recognizing the Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year, Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and contribution to the game.

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Contact: Jonathan Carl MSL Atlanta (404) 870-6874 [email protected]