ATLANTA -- University of Texas 6-3 senior forward Tiffany Jackson has been selected as a finalist for the 2006-07 Naismith Award, given annually by the Atlanta Tip-off club to the national player of the year in women's basketball.
Thirty players have been named finalists for the Naismith Award, and Jackson (Dallas, Texas/Duncanville HS) appears on the finalist list for the third consecutive year. This year, she also is in the running for the State Farm Margaret Wade Trophy as the nation's top player, and two weeks ago was named a Top 20 Midseason candidate for the Wooden Award as the top player.
Naismith Award ballots with be sent to the trophy's voting academy -- the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, is comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country, which bases its criteria on coaching performances this season. The ballots will be sent the week of Feb. 26 as the list is narrowed to four candidates. Those finalists will be announced in mid-March, with the winner honored during the 2007 NCAA Women's Final Four weekend in Cleveland at Quickens Loans Arena, taking place from April 1-3.
Jackson averages 17.1 ppg and 8.9 rpg with team-highs of 73 steals (2.61 spg) and 35 blocks (1.2 bpg) for the 16-12 Longhorns to date. On Wednesday (Feb. 21) against Oklahoma State, she pulled down the 1,000th rebound of her career to become just the fourth player in Texas basketball history to reach that milestone.
In Big 12 action, the versatile Jackson ranks first among all league players in steals (2.50 spg), is fourth in rebounding (8.9 rpg), eighth in conference game scoring (14.8 ppg), ninth in blocks (1.4 bpg) and 14th in assists (2.5 apg).
Here is the list of the 30 finalists for the 2006-07 Naismith Award. Jackson and Oklahoma sophomore post Courtney Paris are the lone Big 12 players on the list. For more information, go to NaismithAwards.com.
2006-07 Naismith National Player of the Year Award Finalists
Matee Ajavon, Rutgers
Alison Bales, Duke
Essense Carson, Rutgers
Cori Chambers, Georgia
Marissa Coleman, Maryland
Jazz Covington, Louisville
Jessica Davenport, Ohio State
Dee Davis, Vanderbilt
Jessica Dickson, South Florida
Shay Doron, Maryland
Sylvia Fowles, LSU
Katie Gearlds, Purdue
Chrissy Givens, Middle Tennessee State
Lindsey Harding, Duke
Laura Harper, Maryland
Alexis Hornbuckle, Tennessee
Charde Houston, Connecticut
Tasha Humphrey, Georgia
TIFFANY JACKSON, TEXAS
Crystal Langhorne, Maryland
Erlana Larkins, UNC
Ivory Latta, UNC
Camille Little, UNC
Courtney Paris, Oklahoma
Candace Parker, Tennessee
Armintie Price, Ole Miss
Noelle Quinn, UCLA
Jillian Robbins, Tulsa
Brooke Smith, Stanford
Kristi Toliver, Maryland
Candice Wiggins, Stanford
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