Taurasi, Ford Named Naismith Players of the Year

Atlanta, GA – Connecticut junior Diana Taurasi and Texas sophomore T.J. Ford have been selected the 2003 Naismith College Basketball Players of the Year, it was announced today by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Diana Taurasi, a 6’0” junior guard at the University of Connecticut, leads the Huskies with 16.5 points, 4.7 assists and 1.2 blocks per game this season. She had nine 20+ scoring games in the 2002-03 season and is ranked twelfth on UConn’s all-time scoring charts with 1,452 career points. She was named the 2002-03 Big East Player of the Year and also the 2003 USBWA Player of the Year.

T.J. Ford, a 5’10” guard at the University of Texas is not only the Naismith Player of the Year, but the Player of the Year for Sports Illustrated, ESPN.com, CBS SportsLine, and the Sporting News. He leads the team in scoring (15.1), assists (7.25), and steals (2) per game. Last year, Ford became the first freshman in NCAA history to lead the nation in assists with 8.27 per game. He ranks third on University of Texas’ all time career assist list with 476, and is tied for second in the league for steals.

The Coca-Cola Company will be the presenting sponsor of the Naismith College Basketball Awards for 2003. The entitlement complements the Company’s new 11-year NCAA partnership as a corporate champion.

“We are proud to be associated with the most coveted award in college basketball and such an outstanding organization,” said Chuck Fruit, senior vice president, worldwide media and alliances, The Coca-Cola Company. “Coca-Cola has always been a strong supporter of collegiate athletics. Having the opportunity to participate in recognizing outstanding basketball achievement is a natural extension of the values we share with the Atlanta Tipoff Club.”

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company and is the leading producer and marketer of soft drinks. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's best-known brand, The Coca-Cola Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite. Through the world's largest distribution system, consumers in nearly 200 countries enjoy The Coca-Cola Company's products at a rate of more than 1 billion servings each day.

The Naismith Awards, in their 35th year, are given in honor of the inventor of the game of basketball—Dr. James Naismith. The awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball. The Awards, including Men’s and Women’s College Player of the Year, Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year, Male and Female Prep Player of the Year and Men’s and Women’s Official of the Year, are determined by a vote of the Naismith Board of Selectors. In addition, the Board of Selectors, comprised of a select group of leading basketball coaches, journalists and administrators, honors a Men’s and Women’s Outstanding Contributor to Basketball.

The Atlanta Tipoff Club was founded in 1956 as a way for Atlantans to share in a common bond - the love and enjoyment of college basketball. It has a two-fold mission: to promote continued support for the game of basketball and to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting.