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
Tiffany Mitchell of
Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.) as its 2011-12 Gatorade North Carolina Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Mitchell is the third Gatorade North Carolina Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Providence Day 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 Mitchell as North Carolina'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, Mitchell 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-11 senior guard led the Chargers to a 29-4 record and a third consecutive North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 3A state championship this past season. Mitchell averaged 19.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 2.8 assists. A three-time returning NCISAA Class 3A First Team All-State selection, Mitchell was also a 2010 USA Basketball Women's U17 World Championship Team trials invitee. She scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds in the 2012 state title-clinching victory.
Mitchell has maintained a 3.41 GPA in the classroom. A member of her school's Cultural Alliance Club, she has volunteered locally as a youth basketball instructor, as a caroler visiting the elderly during the holiday season and on behalf of the Harvest Food Bank.
"While Tiffany's statistics speak for themselves," said Deb Savino, head coach at Charlotte Latin School. "She plays hard, doesn't showboat and is a game-changer. She is always working toward getting better as a player. Many players of her caliber do not follow this path their last year in high school. Tiffany is an exceptional player and individual."
Mitchell has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on an athletic scholarship at the University of South Carolina 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.
Mitchell joins recent Gatorade North Carolina Girls Basketball Players of the Year Cierra Burdick (2010-11 & 2009-10, Butler High School), Asia Williams (2008-09, Hillside), Candace Wood (2007-08, Victory Christian Center School), Cetera DeGraffenreid (2006 – 07, Smoky Mountain), Chante Black (2003-04, East Forsyth), and Camille Little (2002-03, Carver) 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.
