Paris a Naismith Finalist

March 8, 2008

ATLANTA -- Oklahoma's Courtney Paris was named one of four finalists for the Naismith Trophy, announced the Atlanta Tip-Off Club Saturday.

The Naismith Trophy recognizes women's college basketball national player of the year. Paris joins LSU's Sylvia Fowles, Tennessee's Candace Parker and Stanford's Candice Wiggins as finalists for the award.

Finalists were chosen through a vote by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's board of selectors and its national voting academy, which narrowed the mid-season list of 31 candidates down to these four. The academy is comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country, and based its criteria on player performances during the 2007-08 basketball season.

Paris, a junior, was also a finalist for the award as a freshman and sophomore. In 2005, the Piedmont, Calif., native was selected as the Naismith High School Player of the Year.

Through text messaging, fans may help decide the winner as 25 percent of the selection will be determined by a fan vote.

To register, text "VOTE" to 87654. Registration ends March 22.

Once received, it will be replied with a message confirming registration and, on March 23, the ballot to vote on Men's National Player of the Year, Women's National Player of the Year, Men's Coach of the Year, and Women's Coach of the Year will be sent. Registration is free and standard text messaging rates apply.

Fans may vote only once per phone. Voting ends April 5.

The winner will be announced April 7 at the NCAA Final Four in Tampa, Fla.

THE FINALISTS
Sylvia Fowles: A 6-6 senior center from Miami, Fla., Fowles led the Lady Tigers in scoring at 17.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game during the regular season. She was an All-American in 2007 and first team All-SEC in 2006.

Courtney Paris: A two-time All-American and two-time Big 12 Player of the Year, the junior center averaged 18.3 points, 14.9 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game during the regular season for the Sooners. Paris is the only player in NCAA history to register 700 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks in a season.

Candace Parker: The 6-4 junior led the Lady Vols in scoring (20.6 points) and rebounds (8.8) this season. Parker is a two-time Kodak All-American, a three-time first-team All-SEC unanimous selection, the 2006 SEC Freshman of the Year and 2007 SEC Player of the Year.

Candice Wiggins: The senior guard from San Diego, Calif, averaged 19.1 points per game for the Cardinal, and recently broke the Pac-10 scoring record, passing former Southern Cal star Lisa Leslie, who scored 2,414 points as a Trojan from 1991-94. Wiggins is a three-time Second-Team Associated Press All-American and two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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