ATLANTA – Norcross (Ga.) guard Diamond DeShields is the 2013 Naismith Girl’s High School Player of the Year and Marion County (Lebanon, Ky.) coach Trent Milby is the 2013 Naismith Girl’s High School Coach of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced.
DeShields, a North Carolina recruit, earned the national Player of the Year honor over post player and Tennessee-bound Mercedes Russell of Springfield (Ore.) and Duke signee Rebecca Greenwell of Owensboro (Ky.) Catholic. DeShields also earned the Atlanta Tipoff Club Miss Georgia Basketball honor for 2013.
“I want to thank the Atlanta Tip-Off Club for this a prestigious honor. I am very grateful and humbled to be in the company of such a tremendous list of past recipients, players I have admired,” Diamond DeShields said. “Awards such as this one mean so much, and it’s the people who know my story that can truly appreciate this awards significance to me. It is their knowledge of all the hours of hard work, hardships and dedication and for their support, I truly thank my family, coaches, teammates and fans for always believing in me. I want to especially thank God, without Him none of this would have been possible.”
“For the national voters to select Diamond as the Naismith Trophy winner validates what we’ve seen her do night in and night out over the last four years right here in Atlanta,” said Eric Oberman, Executive Director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “She is a special player and very deserving of this honor.”
Milby’s Marion County squad, No. 5 in the Blue Star Media’s Go-To 25 rankings, recently finished a perfect 30-0 regular season and won the district championship with two more wins in the Kentucky Girl’s Basketball State playoffs.
“Trent’s strong leadership and excellent coaching skills were evident this season and we’re thrilled to recognize him for such an amazing accomplishment,” Oberman added.
The winners were selected by basketball journalists from around the country who form the Naismith Awards national high school voting academy. The selections were based on outstanding performances during the 2013 high school basketball season. DeShields and Milbywill be recognized at the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Naismith Awards Banquet on March 19 in Atlanta.
The Naismith Girl’s High School Player of the Year award was first given in 1987 to Lynn Lorenzen (Ventura, Iowa), and has since been awarded to such notable players as Lisa Leslie (1990, Morningside, Inglewood, Calif.), Chamique Holdsclaw (1995, Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y.), Candace Parker (2003, Naperville, Ill.) and Maya Moore (2006 & 2007, Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga.). Last year’s winner was Breanna Stewart (Cicero-North Syracuse, Syracuse, N.Y.), who is now at Connecticut.
The Naismith Girl’s High School Coach of the Year Award has been presented since 2008. Last year’s winner was Curtis Ekmark, of St. Mary’s in Phoenix.
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
