Gator Country

Florida forward Jennifer George is the lone senior on this year's Gators women's basketball squad. / Gator Country file photo

University of Florida senior Jennifer George joins Baylor senior Brittney Griner and Delaware senior Elena Delle Donne on the 2012‐2013 Naismith women’s early season watch list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today.

The 50 player watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2012‐2013 college basketball season. The Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year presented by AT&T will be awarded on April 8, 2013, in New Orleans, La.

A 2012 First Team All-Southeastern Conference performer, George headlines a very young and inexperienced 2012-13 Florida team - ranked as the fifth-most inexperienced team in the country – that opened the season with impressive wins against Fairfield (71-49) and Georgia State (84-65).

George is the lone senior on a roster that features eight newcomers, including six freshmen. George led Florida in scoring (12.8 ppg) and rebounding (8.8 rpg) last year and scored 19 points with eight rebounds in the win against GSU.

“With so much returning talent this year, anticipation and excitement for women’s college basketball season among fans, players and coaches is extremely high,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “We look forward to watching these student‐athletes compete and prove to the nation that they deserve to be recognized as the best women’s college basketball player in 2013.”

“AT&T is honored to continue its support of this ongoing tradition and this class of emerging talent,” said Jamie Kerr, Director, AT&T Corporate Sponsorships. “These promising student‐athletes will make for a competitive race and contribute to another exciting season of women’s college basketball.”

In late February, the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors will compile a mid‐season team of the top 30 players in the nation. In March, the Naismith Trophy voting academy will vote to narrow the list to the four finalists.

Notable Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year winners include Chamique Holdsclaw, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, and Tina Charles. The Naismith women’s Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the women’s college basketball player of the year.

For more information, visit http://www.naismithawards.com.

Complete Watch List:
LAST FIRST CLASS POSITION SCHOOL
Armstrong Anne Marie Senior G/F Georgia
Bentley Alex Senior G Penn State
Bone Kelsey Junior C Texas A&M
Butler Heather Junior G University of Tennessee‐Martin
Clarendon Layshia Senior G California
Davis Carolyn Senior F Kansas
Delle Donne Elena Senior F Delaware
Diggins Skylar Senior G Notre Dame
Dolson Stefanie Junior C Connecticut
Ellenberg Aaryn Junior G Oklahoma
Evans Shante Senior F Hofstra
Faris Kelly Senior G Connecticut
Foggie Christina Junior G Vanderbilt
Fussell Chassidy Junior G Texas
George Jennifer Senior F Florida
Goodrich Angel Senior G Kansas
Gray Chelsea Junior G Duke
Griner Brittney Senior C Baylor
Hand Whitney Senior G Oklahoma
Hartley Bria Junior G Connecticut
Hawkins Tianna Senior F Maryland
Hill Tayler Senior G Ohio State
Hooper Jordan Junior F Nebraska
Howard Natasha Junior F Florida State
Jones Kortni Senior G Middle Tennessee State
Lucas Maggie Junior G Penn State
Luper Kevi Senior G Oral Roberts
Marshall Ty Junior G Georgia Tech
Martin Anna Senior G DePaul
Mathies A’dia Senior G Kentucky
McBride Kayla Junior G Notre Dame
McKenith Nadirah Senior G St. John’s
Mincy Lauren Junior G Maryland
Moore Lindsey Senior G Nebraska
Mosqueda‐Lewis Kaleena Sophomore F Connecticut
Ogwumike Chiney Junior F Stanford
Oliver Monique Senior F/C Rutgers
Poppens Chelsea Senior F Iowa State
Rasheed Niveen Senior F Princeton
Reid Monique Senior F Louisville
Rodgers Sugar Senior G Georgetown
Rowe Ebony Junior F Middle Tennessee State
Schimmel Shoni Junior G Louisville
Shafir Naama Senior G Toledo
Sims Odyssey Junior G Baylor
Smith Shenneika Senior G St. John’s
Stewart Breanna Freshman F Connecticut
Thomas Alyssa Junior F Maryland
Walker Markel Senior G/F UCLA
Williams Elizabeth Sophomore C Duke

Courtesy of UF Communications

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