ATLANTA, Ga.
- For the third year in a row, University of Arizona women’s basketball player Shawntinice Polk has been selected as a preseason candidate for the State Farm Wade trophy, given to the Division I Player of the Year. Polk is one of 25 student-athletes on the prestigious list and one of 11 who were on the list last year.
A three-time All-Pac-10 selection, Polk is the league’s active leading career scorer (1,467) and rebounder (914). Hampered with a knee injury much of last season, she still managed to finish third in the conference in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and eighth in scoring (12.7 ppg).
The candidates were selected by a vote of the national awards committee, which is comprised of leading basketball coaches, journalists, and basketball administrators. Players are selected based on game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability.
"The 2005-2006 State Farm Wade Trophy preseason list is an example of the top-notch athletes that contribute to making each collegiate basketball game an exciting new experience," said Jeanne Lenti Ponsetto, Chair of the State Farm Wade Trophy Committee and Athletic Director at DePaul University. "These 25 student-athletes represent the most outstanding players on and off the court and we look forward to another outstanding year of women’s basketball."
The State Farm Wade Trophy, now in its 28th year, is named after the late, legendary three-time national champion Delta State University coach, Lily Margaret Wade. The award debuted in 1978 as the first-ever women’s national player of the year award in college basketball.
This most prestigious award, regarded as "The Heisman of women’s basketball," is organized by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), in conjunction with the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS).
The 2006 State Farm Wade Trophy winner will be announced during the WBCA National Convention held in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Boston, Mass., March 31-April 4, 2006.
The preseason candidates for The State Farm Wade Trophy, listed in alphabetical order, are:
Name Yr. Pos. Institution
Seimone Augustus Sr. G Louisiana State
Nikki Blue Sr. G UCLA
Monique Currie Sr. G/F Duke
Jessica Davenport Jr. C Ohio State
Shay Doron Jr. G Maryland
Megan Duffy Sr. G Notre Dame
Candice Dupree Sr. F/C Temple
Sylvia Fowles So. C Louisiana State
Erin Grant Sr. G Texas Tech
Tasha Humphrey So. F Georgia
Tiffany Jackson Jr. F Texas
Tamara James Sr. G/F Miami
Crystal Langhorne So. C/F Maryland
Erlana Larkins So. F North Carolina
Ivory Latta Jr. G North Carolina
Shawntinice Polk Sr. C Arizona
Cappie Pondexter Sr. G Rutgers
Liz Shimek Sr. F Michigan State
Khara Smith Sr. F DePaul
Kim Smith Sr. F Utah
Tiffany Stansbury Sr. F North Carolina State
Ann Strother Sr. G/F Connecticut
Candice Wiggins So. G Stanford
Sophia Young Sr. F Baylor
Shanna Zolman Sr. G Tennessee
