ATLANTA — The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced its candidates that are vying for the 2008 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T. Auburn junior guard/forward DeWanna Bonner was included on the list of 31 in contention for the award.
“I am honored to have been included in this list with my basketball peers from around the country,” Bonner said. “This is a very talented group this year and it will be a tough decision to pick just one. It has been a great season so far for me and for Auburn, and we hope to keep the momentum going for the next two months.”
The women’s list, which includes 31 candidates because of a tie, was voted on 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, and the list was narrowed down from the pre-season list of 50 candidates who were announced at the beginning of the season.
Bonner currently leads the Tigers on both sides of the ball, averaging 16.9 points (third in the SEC) and 9.8 rebounds (second in the SEC, 23rd in the nation) per game, while netting 77 percent of her free throws. Bonner has turned in eight double-doubles this season and has led the team in scoring nine times and rebounding 15 times. Bonner ranks in the top 15 all-time at Auburn in both scoring and rebounding as she has 1,197 career points and 634 career rebounds.
Again this year AT&T will give fans an unprecedented voice in selecting the winner. Fan voting, through the power and ease of text messaging, will account for 25 percent of the selection process. Fans will be eligible to cast their vote for the winner until April 5.