Taken from WBCA Press Release – 02/26/2014
ATLANTA, Ga.– A’ja Wilson of Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, S.C., is the 2014 WBCA High School Player of the Year and headlines the 2014 WBCA High School All-America Team, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
Wilson, a 6-foot-4 senior forward who is averaging 35 points per game, remains undecided on where she will play collegiately, but has narrowed her choices to Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. She plans to pursue a degree in psychology.
“Congratulations to A’ja for earning the top award for high school basketball players,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. “She has set high standards for current and future high school student-athletes to pursue greatness in a game that is rapidly excelling. The WBCA wishes A’ja the best on her future in college and in the game of women’s basketball, as several potential college programs are hoping that she will be a part of their team.”
Here are the 10 players selected to the 2014 WBCA High School All-America Team:
Ariel Atkins – Duncanville High School – Duncanville, Texas – Texas
Sierra Calhoun – Christ the King High School – Brooklyn, N.Y. – Duke
Jordin Canada – Winward School – Los Angeles, Calif. – UCLA
Gabby Green – Saint Mary’s College High School – Oakland, Calif. – California
Alexis Jennings – Sparkman High School – Madison, Ala. – Kentucky
Alexa Middleton – Riverdale High School – Murfreesboro, Tenn. – Tennessee
Kelsey Mitchell – Princeton High School – Cincinnati, Ohio – Ohio State
Brianna Turner – Manvel High School – Pearland, Texas – Notre Dame
Jatarie White – Providence Day School – Charlotte, N.C. – South Carolina
A’ja Wilson – Heathwood Hall Episcopal School – Hopkins, S.C. – Undeclared
“The 10 members of this year’s High School All-America Team have been great leaders for their teams and for the game of girls’ and women’s basketball as it continues to grow,” said Bass.
Here are the 20 players receiving 2014 WBCA High School All-America honorable mention:
Diani Akibogun (Colorado), Nakiah Bell (Missouri), McKenzie Calvert (Texas), Amarah Coleman (Illinois), Mikayla Cowling (California), Kaydra Duckett (South Carolina), Sadie Edwards (Connecticut), Justine Hall (Colorado), Kelli Hayes (California), Chloe Jackson (Maryland), Kaylee Johnson (Wyoming), Haley Lorenzen (Iowa), Erin Mathias (Pennsylvania), Brooke McCarty (Texas), Mariya Moore (California), Alyssa Rice (Ohio), Taylor Rooks (New Jersey), Azura Stevens (North Carolina), Shakayla Thomas (Alabama), Victoria Vivians (Mississippi)
The naming of the WBCA All-American team follows an earlier announcement of participants for the 2014 McDonald’s All-American game set to be played April 2nd at the United Center in Chicago. All but one of the WBCA first team also garnered McDonald’s honors and five named honorable mention by the WBCA can lay claim to both honors as well.
Additionally, the WBCA also announced that the WBCA High School All-America Game will not be played this year. Declining sponsorship revenue and the rising cost of operating the game was going to make it necessary for the WBCA to fund the game by redirecting money from services the association’s membership rate more highly. With the suspension of the game the WBCA decided to name 10 rather than 20 players as High School All-Americans to be consistent with the Coaches’ All-America teams in the collegiate divisions.
“The decision to suspend the game, although difficult, was financially responsible and necessary,” said Bass. “We will explore the feasibility of reinstating the game in future years if new sponsorship revenues are made available.”
This year SchollyMe will be sponsoring the first “All-World” game April 19th at Concordia University in Irvine, California featuring many players already recognized by both McDonald’s and the WBCA.
Any graduating senior can be nominated for the WBCA High School All-America Team by a high school or AAU coach who is an active WBCA member. College coaches are not eligible to nominate a player for consideration. The 10-player All-America team and a 20-player honorable mention team are selected from the nominees by a selection committee composed of WBCA-member girls’ high school basketball coaches who represent nine geographical districts across the country.
The 2014 selection committee is also composed of Brian Robinson (chair), Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School (N.C.); Eric Smith, Cicero-North Syracuse High School (N.Y.) Jody Patrick, Flint Hill School (Va.); Anthony Smith, Homewood-Flossmoor High School (Ill.); Jill Nagel, Rock Bridge High School (Mo.); Todd Monsey, Waco Midway High School (Texas); Carl Mattei, Regis Jesuit High School (Colo.); Kevin Kiernan, Mater Dei High School (Calif.); Angie Hembree, Nocross High School (Ga.); and Gary Glasscock, Metro High School (Mo.) who is past chair. Daniella Trujillo, WBCA manager of events, awards & office administration, is staff liaison to the committee.
