Feb. 25, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
JennaSmith13.com
ATLANTA, Ga. - The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the 30 midseason candidates for the 2010 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T with Illinois senior Jenna Smith (Bloomington, Minn., Kennedy High School) among those who made the cut. The prestigious Naismith Trophy is presented annually to college basketball's player of the year.
Prior to the season, Smith was named to the 50-player watch list for the award and today the list was narrowed to 30 candidates based on player performances this season. The list was voted on by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists from around the country. Smith was also a preseason candidate for the Wade Trophy Player of the Year Award, the Wooden Player of the Year Award and the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, which focuses on the student-athlete on and off the court.
A former All-American and two-time first team All-Big Ten selection, Smith has had possibly her best season to date this year. With one regular season game remaining before the postseason begins, she is averaging 18.2 points and a Big Ten-best 11.0 rebounds per game while etching her name all over the Illinois and Big Ten record books.
Smith leads the Big Ten in overall rebounding, defensive rebounding, free throw percentage and minutes played, ranks second in field goal percentage and double-doubles, and third in scoring and offensive rebounding this season. Nationally, she ranks 10th in double-doubles, 11th in rebounding and 16th in free throw percentage and is one of only seven players in the nation to average over 18 points and 10 rebounds per game.
The Bloomington, Minn., native is Illinois' career leader in rebounds, blocks, double-doubles and games started and is second in scoring. She needs 54 points the rest of the season to pass Ashley Berggren's UI career scoring record of 2,089 points. Smith is just the third player in Big Ten history with 2,000+ points and 1,000+ rebounds in a career, and she is quickly climbing up the Big Ten's all-time charts in both categories as she ranks fifth in conference history in career rebounding with 1,126 boards and 13th in career scoring with 2,036 points.
Three other Big Ten players, Jantel Lavender and Samantha Prahalis of Ohio State and Tyra Grant of Penn State join Smith on the Naismith list.
Smith and the Fighting Illini finish the regular season this Sunday at Northwestern before heading to Indianapolis March 4-7 for the Big Ten Tournament.
For more information on the Naismith Award visit naismithawards.com.
