FINALISTS ANNOUNCED: Atlanta Tipoff Club names Naismith Award contenders for men's college basketball

The following press release is courtesy of the Atlanta Tipoff Club:



Three conference players of the year and the defending winner headline the list of finalists for the 2009 Naismith Mens College Player of the Year Award presented by AT&T, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today.DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh) and Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut), the BIG EAST Co-Players of the Year, Blake Griffin (Oklahoma), the top player in the Big 12, and North Carolinas Tyler Hansbrough make up the final ballot.

The winner will be named at the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Guardians of the Game awards program on Sunday, April 5 in Detroit.

The finalists were voted on by the Atlanta Tipoff Clubs 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 vote was tabulated and certified by the accounting firm of Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP.HA&W is the largest independent accounting firm in Georgia and one of the top 50 firms in the United States.

The finalists have enjoyed outstanding individual successes while leading their respective schools to tremendous seasons, said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president.That underscores the meaning of a true leader, something that is inherent in the Naismith Trophy.

This season marks the 40thanniversary of the first Naismith Trophy, which was presented to UCLAs Lew Alcindor, who is known today as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. At the time, the Atlanta Tipoff Club, founded during the 1956-57 basketball season, was looking to create a national identity for its brand and created the award to honor the best basketball player in the nation. Alcindor, along with UCLA head coach John Wooden, flew to Atlanta in the spring of 1969 to receive the trophy.Today, the Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T is regarded as the most prestigious national basketball award and is given annually to the mens college basketball player of the year.

For the sixth consecutive season, presenting sponsor AT&T will once again set the standard in allowing fans to participate in determining this years winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25 percent of the final results more than any other national college basketball award.

Beginning today, AT&T wireless customers and sports fans on other wireless networks will be able to text their votes for the player of their choice. Fans can register by texting VOTE to 51234. Fans will then receive a ballot vie text message which allows them to make their choice for the Naismith Award winner among the remaining finalists. Standard text rates apply.

At AT&T, were glad to help connect people with the collegiate sports they love, said Tim McGhee, executive director, AT&T Corporate Sponsorships. Voting for the esteemed Naismith Trophy winners is one more way fans can voice their support for the teams and players theyre rooting for this season. Were proud to sponsor the Naismith, and were glad to share in the excitement as the competition and text voting continues.

Voting for the Naismith Trophy Mens College Basketball Player of the Year will end on Saturday, April 4, 2009, at 9:00 p.m. EDT.AT&T is making the voting open to other wireless carriers allowing even more fans to participate. Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate.



ABOUT THE FINALISTS

DeJuan Blair:The only unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection, Blair averaged 15.6 points and a league-leading 12.4 rebounds per game.He ranks among national leaders in offensive rebounding (first), total rebounding (fourth) and field goal percentage (16th).The 6-7 sophomore and Pittsburgh native helped lead the Panthers to a 28-3 record and the schools first-ever No. 1 ranking.

Blake Griffin:The6-10 sophomore led the Big 12 in scoring (22.1 ppg), rebounding (14.2 rpg) and field goal percentage (.634) while ranking fourth in blocked shots (1.3 bpg). The Big 12 coaches' preseason choice for player of the year, Griffin has set a single-season OU record with his 25 double-doubles (three shy of the Big 12 record). He has already set a Big 12 single-season mark with his 425 rebounds. The Oklahoma City native also has 13 games of at least 20 points and 15 rebounds this year, eclipsing the previous league record of seven.

Tyler Hansbrough:Hansbrough was a first-team All-ACC performer who led North Carolina to a 28-4 season and regular-season ACC championship, while averaging 21.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.The 6-9 senior from Poplar Bluff, Mo., helped the Tar Heels gain a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament's South Regional.The reigning Naismith Trophy winner is the third Tar Heel (Michael Jordan, 1984 and Antawn Jamison, 1998) and the 16thplayer from the ACC to win the award.He is a three-time finalist for the Naismith Trophy.

Hasheem Thabeet:The BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference selection averaged 13.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.His average of 4.5 blocks per game was tops in the BIG EAST and second in the nation.The 7-3 junior center from Tanzania helped lead the Huskies to a No. 1 seed in theNCAA Tournament.

Other notable mens college player of the year winners include Ralph Sampson (1981-1983), Larry Bird (1979), Patrick Ewing (1985) and Christian Laettner (1992).