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
Asia Dozier of
Spring Valley (Columbia, S.C.) as its 2011-12 Gatorade South Carolina Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Dozier is the second Gatorade South Carolina Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Spring Valley 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 Dozier as South 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, Dozier 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 Vikings to a 21-5 record and the second round of the Class 4A state tournament this past season. Dozier averaged 18.6 points, 4.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.8 rebounds per game. A four-time member of the All-State team, she was thrice selected to the Elite Five by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association.
Dozier has maintained a 4.34 GPA in the classroom and represents one of the state's top academic candidates in meeting the Gatorade Award's broad criteria. She has volunteered locally on behalf of a children's museum, youth basketball programs, and has raised money for cancer research.
"Dozier is a student of the game, and she does so many different things on the court," said Steven Inabinet, head coach at Blythewood High. "She can take over a game with offense or defense."
Dozier 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.
Dozier joins recent Gatorade South Carolina Girls Basketball Players of the Year Xylina McDaniel (2010-11, Spring Valley High School), Kayla Jenerette (2009-10, Travelers Rest), Morgan Stroman (2008-09, 2007-08 & 2006–07, Lower Richland), Keturah Jackson (2003-04, Dreher), and Ivory Latta (2002-03, York Comp.) 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.
