Tag: girls basketball

Kiki Rice, Dariq Whitehead win 2022 Naismith High School Player of the Year

Dariq Whitehead and Kiki Rice have been named the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Players of the Year.

Montverde Academy (Fla.) senior forward and Duke commit Dariq Whitehead and Sidwell Friends School (Washington D.C.) guard Kiki Rice have been named the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Players of the Year.

Whitehead helped Montverde — ranked sixth in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 — to a 21-4 regular-season record with 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.2 blocks per game. He joins R.J. Barrett, Cade Cunningham and Ben Simmons as the fourth Montverde player to win the award.

“I am humbled and honored to become the fourth Montverde Academy player in the last eight years to receive the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Award,” Whitehead said, per release. “I want to thank Coach Boyle and the rest of my coaches along with my teammates, as well as Dr. Kasey Kesselring and the rest of the Montverde Academy community for helping to make this happen.” 

Rice, a UCLA commit, averaged 16 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.8 steals per game this season. She is the first McDonald’s All-American in Sidwell Friends School program history.

“This is a dream come true,” Rice said. “I am so honored to be recognized with the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy by the selection committee from a group of finalists that I personally know to be outstanding players. I am thankful for my family, teammates and coaches because I know without a doubt that without them this would not have been possible.” 

The Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Trophy for Player of the Year was first presented in 1987. The winners are selected by a group of basketball journalists from around the country who form the Naismith Awards national high school voting academy.

“In a highly competitive and thrilling basketball season, Kiki and Dariq were the most outstanding players in the nation and incredibly deserving to be honored with the Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Trophy as Players of the Year,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “They both have proven to be exceptional basketball players, and we wish them well as they continue their careers at the next level.”  

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2022 Naismith Trophy high school girls Player and Coach of the Year finalists announced

The finalists for the 2022 girls high school basketball Naismith Player of the Year and Coach of the Year were announced Tuesday.

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the five finalists for the Naismith high school girls basketball Player of the Year trophy and girls Coach of the Year honors Tuesday.

The finalists for player of the year are Grandview (Colo.) forward and Stanford commit Lauren Betts, Winton Woods (Ohio) point guard and Oregon commit Chance Gray, Homestead (Ind.) wing and UConn commit Ayanna Patterson, Sidwell Friends School (Washington D.C.) point guard and UCLA commit Kiki Rice, and Parkway (La.) junior guard Mikaylah Williams. Williams is the lone junior finalist.

Sidwell Friends School’s Tamika Dudley, Saint John Vianney’s (N.J.) Dawn Karpell, Etiwanda’s (Calif.) Stan Delus, DeSoto’s (Texas) Andrea Robinson and Hopkins High School’s Tara Stars round out the coach of the year finalists.

“These finalists represent the nation’s top high school girls players and coaches who have enjoyed remarkable success this season, through their play on the court or their leadership from the sidelines,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “The final few weeks of this season will be extremely competitive among the candidates as it always is, which makes narrowing this list down to one winner for each award an exciting challenge for our voters.” 

“Jersey Mike’s salutes the top five candidates for the Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Girls Trophy. We are proud to be associated with these incredibly talented high school basketball players,” said Rich Hope, chief marketing officer, Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc. “We also congratulate the five coaches nominated for National High School Girls Coach of the Year for their extraordinary dedication.” 

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Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year Semifinalists Announced

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the semifinalists for the Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year Award on Tuesday afternoon.

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the semifinalists for the Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year Award on Tuesday afternoon.

The list of semifinalists features:

  • Homestead (Ind.) W Ayanna Patterson
  • Winton Woods (Ohio) PG Chance Gray
  • Montverde Academy (Fla.) F Janiah Barker
  • Sierra Canyon (Calif.) G Judea Watkins
  • Sidwell Friends (Washington D.C.) PG Kiki Rice
  • Hopkins (Minn.) F Maya Nnaji
  • Parkway (La.) G Mikaylah Williams
  • Valor Christian (Colo.) Raegen Beers
  • Fremont (Utah) Timea Gardiner

Raven Johnson was last year’s Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year.

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WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury hires high school coach to lead franchise

One of California’s best girls high school basketball coaches is making the jump to the professional ranks.

One of California’s best girls high school basketball coaches is making the jump to the professional ranks.

The WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury announced Monday that it is hiring Windward High School’s Vanessa Nygaard as its next head coach. Nygaard won two state championships and five sectional titles during her stint at Windward.

A professional team plucking a high school head coach to lead the way might seem like a bit of a reach, but Nygaard isn’t the average high school head coach. Nygaard starred at Stanford and helped the Cardinal reach three Final Fours. She also spent six years playing in the WNBA and has worked as an assistant coach at the college level, in the WNBA and with USA Basketball since her playing days ended.

Nygaard started her high school head coaching at Windward with a 32-1 record in 2012-13 and won 20 or more games in seven of her first eight seasons. The Wildcats won consecutive state championships under Nygaard’s watch in 2017 and 2018.

Nygaard will now step into one of the most attractive jobs in the WNBA. Phoenix reached the finals last season and has a roster littered with star power from Diana Taurasi to Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith.

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2022 Naismith High School Girls Midseason Team Released

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Girls Midseason team on Wednesday.

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Girls Midseason team on Wednesday.

The list of 25 players features:

  • Spring Valley (Nev.) PG Aaliyah Gayles
  • Hardin Jefferson (Texas) G Ashlon Jackson
  • Cardinal Newman (S.C.) P Ashlyn Watkins
  • Homestead (Ind.) W Ayanna Patterson
  • La Jolla Country Day School (Calif.) P Breya Cunningham
  • Winton Woods (Ohio) PG Chance Gray
  • Classen SAS (Okla.) W Darianna Littlepage-Buggs
  • Adolfo Camarillo (Calif.) F Gabriela Jaquez
  • IMG Academy (Fla.) F Grace VanSlooten
  • Cathedral Catholic (Calif.) P Isuneh Brady
  • Montverde Academy (Fla.) F Janiah Barker
  • Sierra Canyon (Calif.) G Judea Watkins
  • Red Bank Catholic (N.J.) W Justine Pissott
  • Sidwell Friends School (Washington D.C.) PG Kiki Rice
  • Mount Notre Dame (Ohio) G KK Bransford
  • Grandview (Colo.) P Lauren Betts
  • Hopkins (Minn.) F Maya Nnjai
  • Parkway (La.) G Mikaylah Williams
  • Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) G Paris Clark
  • Saddle River Day School (N.J.) G Paulina Paris
  • Valor Christian (Colo.) P Raegen Beers
  • Academy (Mich.) G Ruby Whitehorn
  • American Heritage (Fla.) G Ta’Niya Latson
  • East Clarendon (S.C.) PG Talaysia Cooper
  • Fremont (Utah) F Timea Gardner

Cunningham, Watson and Williams are the lone juniors on the list. Players on the list are committed to collegiate programs such as USC, Duke, South Carolina, UConn, Oregon, Baylor, UCLA, Georgia, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Stanford, Arizona, North Carolina, Florida State, Oregon State and Clemson.

The top 25 girls basketball recruits in the class of 2022

The top 25 girls high school recruits in the class of 2022 and where they are committed with the basketball early signing period here.

The early signing period is here and USA TODAY High School Sports has you covered with where the best of the best on the hardwood in the class of 2022 are heading.

What is next for the nation’s elite prospects? This tracker lays out the top 25 recruits in the class of 2022, according to ESPN, and where they are going to play their college basketball. Some of these recruitments still aren’t close to ending, as three of the top 25 prospects have yet to commit to a school.

Here is a look at this year’s group of top 25 recruits and where they are heading to further their career.

Two Chicago Division I basketball recruits wounded in drive-by shooting

Ty Johnson and TaKiya Howard were wounded in a drive-by shooting Monday night.

Chicago high school basketball stars Ty Johnson and TaKiya Howard were wounded in a drive-by shooting Monday night, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Johnson, a star at DePaul Prep and Loyola-Chicago commit, and Howard, who plays at De La Salle Institute and is expected to play her college basketball at Murray State next season, were shot outside of Johnson’s home. According to the Sun-Times, Howard and a friend had been on their way to get ice cream before stopping at Johnson’s house. Johnson was talking to the women through the window of their car when shots were fired from a passing car. At least 19 rounds were fired.

Johnson was grazed in the back of his head, while Howard was struck in the ear. According to Kimberly Howard, Takiya’s mother, the bullet is lodged in her daughter’s neck near the carotid artery.

“I was able to see her and I was able to kiss her,” Kimberly Howard said. “She looked up to me, she was responsive, she was coherent, and that’s a good thing.”

DePaul Prep issued a statement confirming Johnson’s status as he currently rests at home, recovering from his injury.

“Last evening, while talking with his friends on his own front lawn, TY was the victim of a random shooting. He suffered a graze wound to the head. Fortunately, he was able to be treated in the hospital and is home with his family where he is resting comfortably.

“Head varsity basketball coach Tom Kleinschmidt has stayed in close contact today with TY’s father, who is grateful that is his son is alive and will recover physically. The family asks the DePaul Prep family to keep them in their prayers.

“We also ask you to remember in prayer, a student from De La Salle High School with whom TY was talking. She remains in the hospital at this time. We join the De La Salle community in keeping her in our prayers.”

Which girls HS basketball programs won state championships this season?

USA Today High School Sports takes a look at which girls high school basketball programs have won state championships so far this season.

The COVID-19 pandemic threw a major wrench in this year’s high school basketball season, but champions have still been crowned across the country and plenty more are still to come.

26 states have already completed their postseason slates, while 24 more (including the District of Columbia) will name champions before the year is up. Only New Jersey elected not to host postseason play this high school basketball season.

USA Today High School Sports will keep you posted on who brings home hardware across the girls high school basketball landscape with a running list of state champions.

Girls Basketball: GEICO Nationals’ four-team field set

The 2021 GEICO Girls High School Basketball Nationals field is set.

The 2021 GEICO Girls High School Basketball Nationals field is set.

Lake Highland Prep (Fla.), Westlake (Ga.), Paul VI (Va.) and Fremont (Utah) are the four teams in the field, with Lake Highland Prep set to take on Paul VI and Westlake playing Fremont in the semifinals on April 2. The semifinal winners will play for the championship the following morning at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

Lake Highland Prep won the Florida 4A state championship on Feb. 27, while Westlake won a Georgia AAAAAA earlier this year. Westlake is led by 2021 Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year and McDonald’s All-American Raven Johnson. Fremont won Utah’s 6A title, while Paul VI won all 10 games of its abbreviated season. However, Paul VI has not played since Feb. 9.

RELATED: Raven Johnson named 2021 Naismith Girls HS Basketball Player of the Year

All four teams in the field are currently undefeated.

Raven Johnson named 2021 Naismith Girls HS Basketball Player of the Year

Raven Johnson has been named the 2021 Naismith Girls High School Basketball Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Westlake (Ga.) High School guard Raven Johnson has been named the 2021 Naismith Girls High School Basketball Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Johnson has averaged 15.3 points and 5.7 assists per game this season with career totals of 1,623 points and 425 assists in 110 games. Her defensive stats are also impressive with 3.7 steals per game in the 2020-21 season and 409 steals in her career. Westlake is currently 19-0 and slated to play for a Georgia 6AAAA championship on Friday.

Johnson joins 2014 winner A’ja Wilson as just the second Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year winner to go on to play at the University of South Carolina.

“I am so proud to have won the Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Trophy,” Johnson said. “It means the world to me. I would like to share a quote from Kobe Bryant that I try to live by, ‘Great things come from
hard work and perseverance. No excuses.’ I have worked hard to try to become the best player for my team. Thanks to all who have poured into molding me to be able to receive this award.”

The Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Trophy for Player of the Year was first presented in 1987, and the winners are selected by a group of basketball journalists from around the country who form the Naismith Awards national high school voting academy. The selections were based on outstanding performances during the 2020-21 high school basketball season.

Past notable girls winners have included Lisa Leslie (1990, Morningside High School, Inglewood, Calif.), Chamique Holdsclaw (1995, Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y.), Candace Parker (2003, Naperville Central, Naperville, Ill.) and Maya Moore (2006 and 2007, Collins Hill High School, Suwanee, Ga.).

RELATED: Al Honor named Naismith Girls HS Basketball Coach of the Year