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
Alexis Jones of
MacArthur (Irving, Texas) as its 2011-12 Gatorade Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Jones is the first Gatorade Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from MacArthur 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 Jones as Texas'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, Jones 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 point guard averaged 25.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.8 steals and 1.1 blocks this past season, leading the Cardinals (35-3) to the Class 5A regional finals, where they fell to Duncanville, 62-55, in overtime. The state's returning Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Jones is a two-time returning All-American as named by ESPNHS. Jones averaged 24.0 points, 9.9 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 5.0 steals and 1.5 blocks as a junior, capturing the state title game's Most Valuable Player honor in leading MacArthur to the 2011 Class 5A state championship. She played for USA Basketball's 2010 Women's U18 National Team and 2011 Women's U19 World Championship Team.
Jones has maintained a B-plus average in the classroom. In addition to volunteering locally for a food bank, the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club of America, she has donated her time as part of a youth-literacy campaign, a holiday gift-giving initiative and multiple youth basketball organizations.
"I have been coaching for 40 years and have had numerous players play at the next level, and by far Alexis is one of the best players to ever play the game," said Sue Cannon, head coach at Trinity High. "The only player that I can compare her to is Tamika Catchings, who played for Duncanville, the University of Tennessee and now the WNBA. I would hold heartedly endorse Alexis for Gatorade Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Besides being a great player, she makes everyone around her better."
Jones has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on an athletic scholarship at Duke University 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.
Two time winner Jones joins Gatorade Texas Girls Basketball Players of the Year Chiney Ogwumike (2009-10, Cy-Fair), Brittney Griner (2008-09, Nimitz), Nneka Ogwumike (2007-08 & 2006–07, Cy-Fair), Darrice Griffin (2003-04, Seagraves), and Tiffany Jackson (2002-03, Duncanville) 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.
