Skylar Diggins and Derrick Favors Named 2009 Naismith
National High School Basketball Players of the Year
Stan Benge and Steve Smith Claim Coach of the Year Honors
ATLANTA (March 11, 2009) – South Bend Washington (Ind.) High School senior Skylar Diggins and South Atlanta (Ga.) High School senior Derrick Favors have been named the 2009 Naismith National High School Basketball Players of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. Additionally, Indianapolis (Ind.) Ben Davis High School girl’s head basketball coach Stan Benge and Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) boy’s head basketball coach Steve Smith were selected as the 2009 Naismith National High School Coaches of the Year. Winners in both categories were selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, a collection of leading basketball journalists and administrators from around the country, based on performances over the course of the season.
The four award winners will be honored at the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Naismith Awards banquet on March 23 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta. Among those also being honored that evening are Anne Donovan and Billy Packer for outstanding contribution to women’s and men’s basketball, respectively. The Naismith Trophy, presented annually to the top girl’s and boy’s high school players and coaches in the country, is the most prestigious national award in high school basketball.
“The competitive landscape in high school basketball is at an all-time high and the result is we have more well-rounded student-athletes, which is evident in Skylar and Derrick,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. “We commend all high school basketball players and coaches for growing the popularity of the game.”
Diggins, a 5-9 guard, led Washington to the Indiana Class 4A state championship game for the fourth consecutive year, where they lost 71-69 to Indianapolis Ben Davis last Saturday. The Lady Panthers won the state title in 2007. This season, Diggins averaged 29 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, and scored 2,790 points over her career. She is also a two-time USA Basketball gold medalist, and started five games at 2008 FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina, leading the United States to perfect 5-0 record and the gold medal. The consensus No.1 guard in the country by all major recruiting services has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Notre Dame.
“This means so much because it’s the biggest basketball award a high school athlete can receive” said Maurice Scott, Washington High School girl’s head basketball coach. “Throughout her career, Skylar has put in the work and yet remained humble along the way. It’s an amazing accomplishment and sums up her wonderful career.”
Favors, a 6-9 center, has been the driving force behind South Atlanta’s run to the Georgia state semi-finals. For the season, he has averaged 27.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and three assists per game. He is the No. 1 rated college prospect in the nation by scout.com and was recently named Mr. Georgia Basketball by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. He has signed a letter of intent to play college basketball at Georgia Tech next season.
“There is no more deserving person or basketball player for this prestigious award than Derrick,” said Michael Reddick, South Atlanta High School boy’s head basketball coach. “He has continued to work hard and put in the effort year after year. This means a lot to our basketball program, South Atlanta High School and the entire community.”
Benge’s squad won the Indiana Class 4A championship on Saturday when the Giants defeated South Bend Washington 71-69. This is likely his first national championship since Ben Davis (30-0) entered the game ranked No. 1 in Indiana, No. 1 in the nation by USA Today and No. 2 by ESPN Rise Magazine. In 24 seasons at his alma mater Benge has a career record of 468-125, and now three state titles.
Smith led Oak Hill to a 38-0 record in what many believed would be a rebuilding year for the Warriors, especially after losing to graduation Brandon Jennings, the reigning Naismith National Boy’s High School Player of the Year. Along the way Oak Hill has defeated 10 nationally-ranked opponents, all on the road. In 24 seasons, Smith has amassed a 756-44 record, and his teams have claimed seven mythical national championships. Smith also coached Ron Mercer, who was the 1995 recipient of the Naismith National Boy’s High School Player of the Year award while starring for Oak Hill.
Past Naismith Trophy winners have set a precedent for excellence at the college and professional levels. That group includes Lisa Leslie (1990), Chamique Holdsclaw (1995), Diana Taurasi (2000), LeBron James (2003), Dwight Howard (2004) and Greg Oden (2006).
Last year, Jennings joined Elena Delle Donne, of Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Del., as the Naismith National High School Players of the Year, while Brian Harrigan (Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, San Francisco, Calif.) and Bob Hurley (St. Anthony High School, Jersey City, NJ) were selected as the inaugural Naismith National High School Coach of the Year award winners.
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, an Atlanta Sports Council property, is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club has presented the Naismith Trophy since UCLA’s Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969.
The Naismith Awards program has become an emblem of excellence for the game, recognizing the Men’s and Women’s College Player of the Year, Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and overall contribution to the game.