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PARKER, HORNBUCKLE NAMED NAISMITH TROPHY PRE-SEASON CANDIDATES
Dec. 12, 2006
Knoxville, Tenn. - University of Tennessee Lady Vol basketball players Candace Parker and Alexis Hornbuckle were named as pre-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced. The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men's and women's players of the year. Parker, a 6-foot-4 sophomore leads the team in scoring (19.6 ppg), rebounding (8.3 rpg) and blocked shots (2.5 bpg). The Naperville, Ill., native was a pre- and mid-season Naismith candidate during her rookie campaign. Charleston, W.Va.'s Hornbuckle paces the Lady Vols in steals (3.5 spg) and adds 3.3 assists, 9.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest. The junior guard is currently riding a streak of 45 consecutive games with at least one theft. Parker and Hornbuckle were both named pre-season candidates for the Wooden Award, as well. Seven different Southeastern Conference schools placed a total of nine athletes on the list. The Atlantic Coast Conference led the way with 10 members from three different universities. The Lady Vols face 20 of the individuals on the list this season from six SEC schools as well as Duke, North Carolina, Stanford, Connecticut, Texas, Arizona State, Middle Tennessee and UCLA. The list of 50 pre-season candidates was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its pre-season criteria on player performances from last season and expectations for the 2006-07 season. "The women's pre-season candidates represent the very best in college basketball," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Sports Council president. "It will be a privilege to add any of these players to the list of distinguished Naismith Trophy winners." In January, the Board of Selectors will narrow its pre-season list to the Top 30 players in the nation. Those players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March. Cingular Wireless will continue to set the standard in allowing fans to participate in determining this year's winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25% of the final results, which is more than any other national award. "The talent in women's basketball is as deep as it's ever been this season," said Marc Lefar, chief marketing officer of Cingular Wireless. "Cingular is excited to partner with the Atlanta Tipoff Club and college basketball fans nationwide to help select this year's Naismith Trophy winner." The pre-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:
Last year's Naismith Trophy recipient was repeat winner Seimone Augustus from LSU. Other notable women's college player of the year winners include Diana Taurasi, Cheryl Miller, Chamique Holdsclaw and Sheryl Swoopes.
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
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  Post Game Audio - Coach Summitt - 11/17 Post Game Audio - Briana Bass - 11/17 Lady Vols vs. Virginia Game Highlights - 11/17 Lady Vols vs. San Francisco Game Highlights - 11/15
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