Breanna Stewart of
Cicero-North Syracuse (Cicero, N.Y.), a University of Connecticut recruit, has been named the 2011 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, it was announced Friday.
"It is exciting because this is a pretty big award," Stewart said. "I'm just honored to be thought of as USA Basketball's Female Athlete of the Year."
Photo by James Conrad
Breanna Stewart averaged 24.3 points,
11.5 rebounds and 4.2 blocks as junior.
Past winners include the likes of Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, Lisa Leslie and Cheryl Miller.
The 6-foot-3 senior forward has led her high school team to a 12-2 record this season after averaging 24.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.2 blocks, 3.0 assists and 2.8 steals as a junior.
Last summer she averaged team highs of 11.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks while playing just 19.9 minutes as the USA won the FIBA U-19 world championship in Puerto Montt, Chile. She was the second youngest team member.
She also was the only high school player to represent her country in the Pan American Games, which were held last fall in Guadalajara, Mexico. Playing with 11 collegians, she led in scoring (15.3), rebounding (11.3) blocked shots (1.8) and minutes played (27.8) as the U.S. compiled a 2-2 record. She also set a tourney record with 21 rebounds against Argentina.
Coach Jennifer Rizzotti gave her a great compliment when she said, "Breanna Stewart ranks up with Maya Moore (former college player of the year) as one of the most competitive young players I've ever seen. She has the ability to tremendously impact the game on both ends of the floor. Her desire to win and compete on every possession raised the level of intensity for our team and was crucial to our winning the gold medal."