Tag: naismith player of the year

6 awesome facts about Caitlin Clark ahead of Iowa’s Final Four meeting with South Carolina

Get to know the Naismith Player of the Year a little better.

Iowa’s Sweet 16 game against Louisville drew 2.5 million viewers on Sunday, more than any NBA game on ESPN this season.

A big part of that draw was the incredible Caitlin Clark, the Naismith Player of the Year and two-time Big Ten Player of the Year who absolutely didn’t disappoint with a 41-point triple-double to push Iowa to the Final Four.

With a meeting against the reigning national champion South Carolina awaiting the Hawkeyes Friday, that viewership could soar even higher, meaning more people will be introduced to Clark for the first time.

For those looking to learn more about the Iowa star before the big game, here are a few fun facts about Clark in her basketball journey.

[pickup_prop id=”32830″]

Dawn Staley, Aliyah Boston take home Coach of the Year and Player of the Year ahead of Friday’s Final Four

Dawn Staley and Aliyah Boston are big winners on Wednsday!

The Gamecocks had a few major wins on Wednesday.

Both standout center Aliyah Boston and head coach Dawn Staley received some recognition for their contributions to South Carolina’s 33-2 season.

Boston was named the 2022 Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year after averaging 16.8 points and 12.2 rebounds. Boston’s POTY campaign was not only highlighted by her SEC record-breaking 27 consecutive double-doubles but also her 2.5 blocks per game and effectiveness on the defensive end. So, you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that Boston also earned the 2022 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year honor.

While Boston took home the on-the-court awards, Staley was there to grab the accolades that recognize those on the sideline. She was named the 2022 Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year after leading the Gamecocks to the Final Four as they went through the entire season without relinquishing their No. 1 spot in the rankings.

The COTY award is her second.

Surely the 2022 award winners are thrilled to be recognized for their success. I’d bet there’s another honor that both Boston and Staley are greedy for — being crowned national champions.

The Gamecocks had the shortest championship odds (+162 at Tipico) entering the NCAA Tournament and remain the favorites to win it all.

Can they avenge their 2021 Final Four heartbreak?

[mm-video type=video id=01fze67fn95nt4sgwsh4 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fze67fn95nt4sgwsh4/01fze67fn95nt4sgwsh4-8adfbf8d344c9b300e4bea2bcfd4ccb8.jpg]
[listicle id=1867771]

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.”  

[lawrence-related id=101492916]

Chet Holmgren named 2021 Naismith Boys HS Basketball Player of the Year

Chet Holmgren has been named the 2021 Naismith Boys High School Basketball Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Chet Holmgren, the top recruit in the class of 2021, has been named the Naismith boys high school basketball Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Holmgren is averaging 20.6 points per game so far this season for Minnehaha Academy and has scored in double figures every game. With Holmgren leading the charge, Minnehaha currently sits at 13-1 on the year. Holmgren is the first Minnesota native to receive the Naismith High School Trophy.

“This is a tremendous honor, and I’m so appreciative to win the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy,” Holmgren said. “I’d like to thank my family, teammates and coaches for helping me to achieve success, and I also want to thank the Atlanta Tipoff Club and Jersey Mike’s for recognizing me.”

Holmgren recently narrowed down his recruitment to a list of finalists consisting of Georgetown, Gonzaga, Memphis, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina and Ohio State. Gonzaga is currently viewed as the favorite to land Holmgren, as his 247Sports Crystal Ball reads 100% in favor of the Bulldogs.

“It is great to see the fans (on social media) trying to lead me to their school,” Holmgren said. “I am not letting it play too much into my decision because at the end of the day I have to find what is best for me and my future. Wherever I end up going, I am sure their fans will be the happiest for me.”

RELATED: No. 1 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren will choose a college

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 boys winners have included Jason Kidd (1992, St. Joseph
Notre Dame High School, Alameda, Calif.), Kobe Bryant (1996, Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, a.), LeBron James (2003, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, Ohio) and Derrick Favors (2009, South Atlanta High School, Ga.).

Emoni Bates, Chet Holmgren among Naismith Player of the Year semifinalists

Emoni Bates and Chet Holmgren headlined the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Player of the Year semifinalists released Thursday night.

The ten Jersey Mike’s Naismith Player of the Year finalists were released Thursday night, with top 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren and top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates headlining the group.

Joining Bates and Holmgren on the list were Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith, Hunter Sallis, Caleb Houstan, JD Davison, Kennedy Chandler, Jaden Hardy and Jalen Duren. Banchero (No. 3), Smith (No. 5), Sallis (No. 6) and Houstan (No. 8) are top 10 recruits in the class of 2021, while Chandler ranks 13th. Hardy is the second-ranked recruit in the class of 2022 and Duren checks in at No. 5 in the rankings.

Schools across the country have been after Holmgren for over a year, while the G-League also provides a viable path to the professional ranks for the No. 1 recruit in the country. However, Holmgren provided some clarity on his future in a recent interview with CBS Sports HQ, stating that he is indeed planning on picking a school to attend after high school.

“Yeah, I am definitely looking to find a college to play for,” Holmgren said. “My decision is definitely going to come down to my fit into the school all the way from basketball stuff to academics.”

Holmgren recently narrowed down his recruitment to a list of finalists consisting of Georgetown, Gonzaga, Memphis, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina and Ohio State. Gonzaga is currently viewed as the favorite to land Holmgren, as his 247Sports Crystal Ball reads 100% in favor of the Bulldogs.

“It is great to see the fans (on social media) trying to lead me to their school,” Holmgren said. “I am not letting it play too much into my decision because at the end of the day I have to find what is best for me and my future. Wherever I end up going, I am sure their fans will be the happiest for me.”

RELATED: No. 1 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren will pick a school

Bates, meanwhile, committed to Michigan State on June 29 and is set to suit up for the Spartans if he elects to play college basketball.

“Extremely thin but has great length for such a skilled player. Plays with strength, though, and doesn’t avoid contact,” 247Sports’ Jerry Meyer said in his scouting report of Bates. “Quick twitch athlete who moves feet well and is quick off the floor. Elite three-level scorer. Has deep range off catch or dribble. Can score in a multitude of ways.

“Handles well, has plethora of moves and can attack either direction. Has a feel as a passer. Dangerous offensive rebounder. Good defensively when focused. Has defensive versatility. Elite, elite prospect.”