FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ashley Ginascol (312-729-3622)
CHICAGO (March 8, 2012) — In its 27th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, today announced
Makenzie White of
Scott (Madison, W. Va.) as its 2011-12 Gatorade West Virginia Girls Basketball Player of the Year. White is the first Gatorade West Virginia Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Scott High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes White as West Virginia's best high school girls basketball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award announced in March, White joins an elite alumni association of past state girls basketball award-winners, including Candace Parker (2003-04, 2002-03, & 2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Diana Taurasi (1998-99 & 1999-00, Don Antonio Lugo HS, Calif.), Maya Moore (2005-06 Collins Hill HS, Ga.), Rashanda McCants (2004-05, Asheville HS, N.C.), Shyra Ely (1999-00, Ben Davis HS, Ind.) and Lisa Leslie (1988-89, Morningside HS, Calif.).
The 5-foot-9 senior guard led the Skyhawks to a 22-2 record and a berth in the Class AA quarterfinals, scheduled for March 7. White averaged 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.7 steals through 24 games. A two-time First Team All-State selection, she notched a triple-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 70-36 win over Hebert Hoover in the Class AA Region 4 final.
White has maintained a 3.24 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally on behalf of the Special Olympics and as a youth basketball coach and camp counselor.
"Makenzie White is one of the best players I have ever coached against," said David Williamson, head coach at Chapmanville High. "She is an all-around basketball player and the best compliment I can give is that she always makes her teammates so much better."
White has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on an athletic scholarship at the University of West Virginia this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPNHS and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
White joins recent Gatorade West Virginia Girls Basketball Players of the Year Mariah Byard (2010-11, North Marion High School), Mariah Byard (2009-10, North Marion), Whitney Bays (2008-09 & 2007-08, Huntington), Mackenzie Maier (2006 – 07, Charleston Catholic), and Alexis Hornbuckle (2003-04 & 2002-03, South Charleston) among the state's list of former award winners.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners, and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.