TAMPA, Fla. - Candace Parker pulled off a rare awards feat Monday.
The Tennessee forward was presented with the Naismith Trophy, becoming the fifth women's player to win this national player-of-the-year award for college and high school.
Parker won the high school Naismith in 2003 and 2004 when she played for Naperville (Ill.) Central High.
"We are proud to welcome a former winner back into the Naismith family, especially someone who has achieved excellence on a consistent basis,'' said Gary Stoken, president of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "Candace has enjoyed a tremendous season and career at Tennessee and the college game will miss her dearly."
Parker, who beat out Stanford's Candice Wiggins, LSU's Sylvia Fowles and Oklahoma's Courtney Paris, was selected by the Tipoff Club's board of selectors and by the fans, who accounted for 25 percent of the overall vote.
"The Naismith Award has been long considered as one of the top honors for both high school and collegiate athletes,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "Candace Parker is one of those rare talents who has been able to win the award on both levels."
Parker is leading Tennessee is scoring (21.4 points per game) and rebounding (8.5) this season.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 14
miamiVOL writes:
shes got one game left, and its a BIG ONE!!
mdvol writes:
Sorry you couldn't make it to the finals, GENO! Oh, but congratulations on your nominees for player of the year. Wait, YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY! No ring, no individual honors. Wish you had made it to the finals because Candace, Pat and company would love to have hung the new banner in your face. You can watch on ESPN. Maybe they'll let you watch at their HQ. I hear they give great tours.
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Congrats Candace! You have the heart of a lion and so do your teammates. It is so refreshing to see such a talented athlete be so humble. I am always proud when you give credit to the TEAM rather than accepting acolades for yourself. This is for ALL the Lady Vols who have made us proud this year...GO LVS!!!!
FlaVol2 writes:
Good thoughts, Vol in LSU Land. Candace is a real trooper and is one classey lady. She has done everything that she was asked to do and more in her years at UT. I too hate to see her go, but that is the way it is now in college sports. Good luck to you Candace. No matter where you are we will be pulling hard for your future success. Go Lady Vols against Stanford!
98reax writes:
Parting is bittersweet sorrow. Parker is so deserving of the Naismith award. CP3 spells excellence in the student athlete. She gives credit to her team and she does not buy into the media frenzy albeit cordial on every interview. They got this one right, did the board of selectors. I cannot wait to see Candace in the pros and especially representing our country in the Olympics.
ncvol17 writes:
A fantastic ambassador for Tennessee. A great athlete and student. She will go down in Tennessee history as one of the all time greats.
bmaples writes:
Candace Parker is one of the greatest players, greatest role models to ever play at any school. She richly deserves this award. Here's hoping she can put some net strands next to it!!
VolMama writes:
Does anyone think they will retire CP3 jersey. I agree she is great, but is she the best that has ever played at TN. I was watching Coach Summitt on the sports, tonight and she was saying how glad she was that CP3 came to TN, because we all know that she could have went to play any where she would have wanted. Thank you CP3 for 3 Great Years,and that goes to the other Senior on the team,Thanks.
OrangePride writes:
Candace is one of the all-time great atheletes in Tennessee history....not just basketball, all sports! Beyond her unique greatness as a Lady Vol, she is a woman of great character, strength, and class. She embodies everthing good about Tennessee. I am so happy for her and the University. She has one last game in Orange......GO CANDACE, GO VOLS!
LUVLADYVOLS writes:
All our players are top notch players. Candace is one of the best all around players I have ever saw. We have one more to win and then it is on to next year for #9.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Great idea, VolMama! I hate to admit this, but I don't even know if any Lady Vols' jerseys have been retired. If there are any such, then surely Candace's should be among them. If not, then there is surely no better one to start with. Many, many thanks to Candace for the incomparable way she has represented UT. Just one more mountain to climb, ladies! GO LADY VOLS!!! BRING HOME THE EIGHTH!!!
Catch24fan writes:
I am pretty sure Holly's number 22 and Catching's number 24 have been retired and Holdsclaw's should be up too if it isn't already.
knoxtenor writes:
Congrats, Candace. Fowles will have to settle for SEC Player of the Year and a "and we did get to play in the Final Four."
98reax writes:
Holdsclaw's #23 was retired before Catching's #24, which was the most recent. Don't start throwing rotten veggies at me but, CP3 will need to win tonight to be considered better than Holdsclaw, IMHO. I'm ducking and dodging now!
You have to admit, Mique as a freshman, played a huge part in our '96 Championship. No doubt the '97 Cinderella season and ultimate prize of Title #5 was 97% Holdsclaw's doing. The '98 so-called 'dream team' captured NC#7, led by the greatest of greats, Chamique Holdsclaw #23, Kellie Jolly and 4 of the best freshmen to hit the court at TBA.
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