Feb. 22, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Maryland sophomore Shay Doron is one of the nation's top 30 players to be selected a mid-season candidate for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, the Atlanta Tipoff Club recently announced. The prestigious award is given annually to the nation's top player.
Doron (Great Neck, N.Y./Christ the King) is following up a standout freshman campaign with a stellar sophomore season. Leading the team in scoring, she is second in the ACC with 18.8 points per game, scoring 20 or more points 11 times this season. Ranked in the top 30 in the nation in scoring, she scored a school-record tying 39 points at Florida State on Jan. 16 and 37 points in the upset of then No. 4/5 North Carolina just seven days before en route to ACC Player Week honors.
Doron is among the top 15 in the ACC in free throw percentage (7th), assists (13th), steals (T10th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (15th). A Preseason All-ACC honoree, she has also received preseason national recognition, garnering Honorable Mention All-America nods by Street & Smith's. She is also recording one of the best scoring seasons in school history. Her 456 points so far this season is among the top 15 in school history.
Doron is one of only three players from the ACC to be named to the list and is one of five sophomores in the country.
The list of 30 candidates was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its criteria on player performances this season. The list was narrowed down from the pre-season list of 50 candidates who were announced at the beginning of the season. The 30 players are eligible for the final ballot in March when four finalists will be announced.
As part of its involvement, Cingular is making this year's selection process unique. For the first time, college basketball fans have a voice in deciding who wins the Trophy through the power and ease of wireless text messaging.
The Terps return to action when they host Virginia Tech in the final ACC regular-season game of the year on Thursday, Feb. 24. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m.
