Feb. 22, 2005

ATLANTA - Baylor's inside tandem of Sophia Young and Steffanie Blackmon were named among the nation's top 30 women's college basketball players selected as mid-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

The Naismith Trophy is one of the most prestigious national awards presented annually to the top male and female basketball players of the year. The Top 30 list 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 criteria on player performances this season. The list was narrowed down from a preseason list of 50 candidates who were announced at the beginning of the season.

"These women represent the best college players in the nation," Atlanta Tipoff Club President Gary Stokan said. "The Atlanta Tipoff Club looks forward to seeing which player distinguishes themselves among all others to raise the Naismith Trophy in April."

Connecticut's Diana Taurasi was the recipient of last year's Naismith Trophy, which has been awarded to past winners such as basketball greats Cheryl Miller, Rebecca Lobo, Sheryl Swoopes, Chamique Holdsclaw and Dawn Staley.

These mid-season top 30 candidates, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March when four finalists for the Naismith Trophy are announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors.

As part of its involvement, Cingular Wireless is making this year's selection process unique. For the first time, college basketball fans have a voice in deciding who wins the Naismith Trophy through the power and ease of wireless text messaging. For more information, visit: www.naismithawards.com.

Young, a 6-1 junior forward, leads the Baylor squad and is among the Big 12's leaders in scoring rebounding, shooting percentage, double-doubles and steals. The St. Vincent, West Indies native averages 17.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, is shooting 52.5 percent from the floor, has registered a Big 12-leading 13 double-doubles and recorded a team-leading 48 steals. In addition, she has dished out 60 assists. Young is also a candidate for the Wade Trophy and the Wooden Award.

Blackmon, a 6-2 senior post, this week's Big 12 Player of the Week, averages 16.3 points and 8.4 rebounds a game and is Baylor's all-time shot blocker with 150 career rejections. She ranks among Baylor's top 10 in career points and rebounding and averages 16.3 points and 8.4 boards on the season. Blackmon, an ESPN Academic All-District selection, is also a candidate for the Wooden Award, the Wade Trophy and is a Bayer Senior Class Award nonimee.

Young and Blackmon combine to form one of the best inside tandems in NCAA Division I, tallying 3,308 points and hauling down 1,727 career rebounds between them. Blackmon has scored 1,793 points while snagging 850 rebounds and Young accounts for 1,505 points and 877 boards in her three seasons.

Naismith Trophy National Player of the Year Mid-Season Candidates
(presented by Cingular Wireless)

Seimone Augustus, LSU
Jacqueline Batteast, Notre Dame
Steffanie Blackmon, BAYLOR
Nikki Blue, UCLA
Lindsay Bowen, Michigan State
Jamie Carey, Texas
Monique Currie, Duke
Jessica Davenport, Ohio State
Jessalyn Deveny, Boston College
Shay Doron, Maryland
Ashley Earley, Vanderbilt
Shyra Ely, Tennessee
Sandora Irvin, TCU
Dionnah Jackson, Oklahoma
Tiffany Jackson, Texas
Temeka Johnson, LSU
Ivory Latta, North Carolina
Sancho Lyttle, Houston
Janel McCarville, Minnesota
Cappie Pondexter, Rutgers
Noelle Quinn, UCLA
Khara Smith, DePaul
Kim Smith, Utah
Ann Strother, Connecticut
Barbara Turner, Connecticut
Kendra Wecker, Kansas State
Tan White, Mississippi State
Candice Wiggins, Stanford
Tanisha Wright, Penn State
Sophia Young, Baylor