Saturday, February 13, 1999
Szczerbiak finalist for Naismith Award
Enquirer news services
ATLANTA — Miami's Wally Szczerbiak is among 10 finalists for the Naismith college basketball men's player of the year award.
The finalists were selected by a national advisory board of coaches, journalists and administrators. The winners will be announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club April 3.
Szczerbiak leads the Mid-American Conference in scoring (23.7 points per game) and is second in rebounding (8.5).
He is seeking to become the first player to lead the MAC in both categories since Ohio U's Gary Trent and the first Miami player since Ron Harper.
Sczerbiak, a 6-foot-8 senior from Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., has scored 20 or more points in 14 straight games and in double figures in th 29 straight games. He is sixth in nation in scoring.
Szczerbiak was named second team All-America in the preseason by the Associated Press. He was named first team by The Sporting News and Basketball News.
The other finalists for the men's award are: Elton Brand, Duke; Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State; Evan Eschmeyer, Northwestern; Steve Francis, Maryland; Richard Hamilton, Connecticut; Trajan Langdon, Duke; Andre Miller, Utah; Lee Nailon of Texas Christian; and Jason Terry, Arizona.
The finalists for the women's award are: Svetlana Abrosimova, Connecticut; Dominique Canty, Alabama; Tamika Catchings, Tennessee; Becky Hammon, Colorado State; Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee; Stephanie White-McCarty of Purdue; Maylana Martin, UCLA; Semeka Randall, Tennessee; DeMaya Walker, Virginia; and Tamika Whitmore, Memphis.
Szczerbiak has also been named a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Award, which is presented to national player of year by U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
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