April 24, 2009

WACO, Texas - For the first time in program history, the Baylor Lady Bears have incoming players named to the PARADE All-America High School Basketball Team. Brittney Griner was named the magazine's 2009 Player of the Year while Shanay Washington and Mariah Chandler were also honored. The players are three of just 40 players named to the 33rd annual All-American High School Girls list.

Griner, a 6-8 post out of Houston's Nimitz High School, earned 2009 Player of the Year honors after an outstanding senior season, one in which she hit 70% from the floor and averaged 28.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 8.5 blocks a game. She set a national high school record for blocks in a game when she rejected 25 shots against Hastings High School, the first game of the season.

Washington (Dell Valle HS, Austin, Texas) was a third-team selection and Chandler (Southwest Atlanta Christian, Atlanta, Ga.) was selected to the fourth team.

The trio is part of the 2009-10 Baylor recruiting class that was ranked No. 1 on several national recruiting lists.

2009-10 Baylor Recruits
Mariah Chandler - 6-2, Forward, Atlanta, Ga. (Southwest Atlanta Christian)
Brittney Griner - 6-8, Post, Houston, Texas (Nimitz, HS)
Kimetria "Nae-Nae" Hayden - 5-11, Guard, Dallas, Texas (Lincoln HS)
Jordan Madden - 6-0, Guard, Lepanto, Ark. (East Poinsett County HS)
Shanay Washington - 6-1, Guard, Austin, Texas (Del Valle HS)