RIVERS AND MOSQUEDA-LEWIS SELECTED AS 2011 NAISMITH NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Both Winners Headed to Defending NCAA Champion Teams this Fall

ATLANTA (March 10, 2011) – University of Connecticut-bound Mater Dei (Calif.) High School senior Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Duke-bound Winter Park (Fla.) High School senior Austin Rivers have been named the 2011 Naismith National High School Basketball Players of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. It is the first time in the history of the Naismith awards that both National High School Basketball Players of the Year will attend the respective men’s and women’s defending NCAA Championship universities. Duke beat Butler 61-59 in 2010 to win their fourth men’s NCAA Championship and the Lady Huskies defeated Stanford 53-47 to cap off their second consecutive undefeated season and NCAA Championship this past year.

Winners were selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, a collection of leading basketball journalists from around the country, based on their on-court performances over the course of the season.

The two award winners will be honored at the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Naismith Awards banquet presented by AT&T on March 21 at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta. Among those also being honored that evening are Cheryl Miller, Dick Enberg and Dominique Wilkins for their outstanding contributions to women’s and men’s basketball. 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.

“It’s always exciting to watch the top high school basketball talent compete on the collegiate stage,” said Eric Oberman, Executive Director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club.” To have both Naismith National High School Basketball Players of the Year go on to help defend the NCAA Championship in their freshman years is really something special.”

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Naismith National High School Girl’s Player of the Year

This 5’11” is the No. 1 rated girl’s high school recruit in the class of 2011, as ranked by ESPN. As a team captain shooting 53 percent from the field, 44 percent from 3-point line and 88 percent from the foul line, she has led the Mater Dei Monarchs to a 29-1 record in the regular season and a No. 2 national ranking while averaging 21.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. The reigning California Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year, she led her team to the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA Championships.

During her high school career, she has scored more than 2,600 points in her career, as well as 318 3-pointers and 823 rebounds, the most of each in school history. Additionally, she led the 2010 USA U17 World Championship Team to a Gold medal and participated on the 2009 USA U16 National Team, as well as he

“We here at Mater Dei are very proud of Kaleena for winning the prestigious Naismith High School Player of the Year Award for 2010-2011,” said Mater Dei girl’s basketball coach Kevin Kiernan. “Kaleena has contributed much to the Mater Dei Girls basketball program during her four years on varsity… and her scoring and shooting ability will enable her to make a big impact as a freshman at UConn.”

Austin Rivers, Naismith National High School Boy’s Player of the Year

Son of head coach and former NBA point guard , the 6’4” shooting guard is ranked as the No. 1 rated boy’s high school recruit by ESPN. Averaging 29.2 points, and 6.1 rebounds per game this season, Austin led the Wildcats to a 28-5 record and a second consecutive Florida Class 6A title, where he scored 25 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and tacked on four assists in a 52-44 win over Dr. Phillips.

Austin will play for next fall, where he headlines the No. 3 recruiting class in the NCAA, behind only Kentucky and St. Johns.

“Being named the Naismith Player of the Year is a tremendous honor, especially considering only one person each year earns this prestigious award,” Doc Rivers said. “As a parent, I am extremely proud of Austin and as a coach, I'm impressed with how hard he works each day on becoming a better player. Our family is full of pride that Austin is receiving such a remarkable accolade and will be noted with this amazing distinction in basketball history.”

For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.

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.

# # #

Contact: Jonathan Carl MSLGroup for the Atlanta Tipoff Club 404-870-6874 [email protected]