NEW YORK (AP) — John Madden is retiring from football announcing, where his enthusiastic, down-to-earth style made him one of sports' most popular broadcasters for three decades. The Hall of Fame coach spent the last three seasons on NBC's "Sunday Night Football." His final telecast was the Super Bowl in February.
"You know at some point you have to do this — I got to that point," Madden said on his Bay Area radio show Thursday. "The thing that made it hard is not because I'm second guessing, 'is it the right decision?' But I enjoyed it so damn much.
"I enjoyed the game and the players and the coaches and the film and the travel and everything."
Cris Collinsworth will replace Madden, moving over from the network's studio show, NBC Sports chief Dick Ebersol said. Collinsworth filled in when Madden took a game off last October.
Ebersol called Madden "absolutely the best sports broadcaster who ever lived."
Madden said his health is fine, but at the age of 73, he wanted to spend more time with his family. His 50th wedding anniversary is this fall, and his five grandchildren are old enough to notice when he's gone.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Les Keiter
Les Keiter, who served as the voice of Hawai'i and national sporting events for more than a half century, died today. He was 89.
Keiter achieved national and local prominence for his booming play-by-play accompanied by folksy catchphrases.
KHON2 news anchor Joe Moore nicknamed Keiter the "General" after a character he played in a "Hawai'i Five-0" episode.
It was a fitting description for an announcer who commanded widespread respect.
"Everybody looked up to Les," said Riley Wallace, a former University of Hawai'i basketball coach. He was old school. He reported only the facts of the game. He always was a friend — to coaches, players, and the fans. He'll be missed."
Long-time Hawai'i sportscaster Jim Leahey said: "He was a terrific guy. He always called you 'Kid.' Even though he was getting aged, his voice was still strong. And his mind was sharp as a tack."
Keiter started his broadcasting career in Hawai'i after World War II, then went on to a successful career in Philadelphia and New York.
He was the voice of Philaelphia's Big-Five college basketball. He also covered major boxing matches, including championship bouts featuring Muhammad Ali, Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston.
After the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants relocated to California in the late 1950s, Keiter was hired to do recreated broadcasts of their games for New York baseball fans.
His broadcasts were peppered with pet phrases:
"In-again, out-again, Finnigan."
"Ring-tail howitzer."
"Tickle the twine."
"Back, back, back ... Boom! Off the wall."
"They're wearing their batting clothes tonight."
Leahey said: "We could be here a long time remembering his sayings he used to enliven his broadcasts. When you had the drudgery of recreation, you had to create a whole new world and invite people in."
Keiter returned to Hawai'i in the early 1970s, where he served as voice of the Hawai'i Islanders and UH sports.
He teammed with Moore to launch KHON atop the local news ratings.
Keiter's autobiography, "50 Years Behind the Microphone," is in the baseball Hall of Fame.
Keiter's death comes a day after Harry Kalas died. Both began their broadcast careers in Hawai'i and both became popular sportscasters in Philadelphia.
In 1982, both were hired to announce the first Aloha Bowl.
Lenny Klompus, the senior communcations advisor to Gov. Linda Lingle, was the executive director of the Aloha Bowl.
The deaths of Keiter and Kalas, Klompus said, "remind me of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both passing away on July 4 of the same year. Maybe they're calling a game upstairs. I feel like I lost brothers today."
By Stephen Tsai
We’ll miss The General -- by Dave Reardon
Les Keiter remembered
Bill Kwon remembers The General
Ron Mizutani remembers his mentor
***
[6/10/18] Recreating Keiter
Keiter achieved national and local prominence for his booming play-by-play accompanied by folksy catchphrases.
KHON2 news anchor Joe Moore nicknamed Keiter the "General" after a character he played in a "Hawai'i Five-0" episode.
It was a fitting description for an announcer who commanded widespread respect.
"Everybody looked up to Les," said Riley Wallace, a former University of Hawai'i basketball coach. He was old school. He reported only the facts of the game. He always was a friend — to coaches, players, and the fans. He'll be missed."
Long-time Hawai'i sportscaster Jim Leahey said: "He was a terrific guy. He always called you 'Kid.' Even though he was getting aged, his voice was still strong. And his mind was sharp as a tack."
Keiter started his broadcasting career in Hawai'i after World War II, then went on to a successful career in Philadelphia and New York.
He was the voice of Philaelphia's Big-Five college basketball. He also covered major boxing matches, including championship bouts featuring Muhammad Ali, Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston.
After the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants relocated to California in the late 1950s, Keiter was hired to do recreated broadcasts of their games for New York baseball fans.
His broadcasts were peppered with pet phrases:
"In-again, out-again, Finnigan."
"Ring-tail howitzer."
"Tickle the twine."
"Back, back, back ... Boom! Off the wall."
"They're wearing their batting clothes tonight."
Leahey said: "We could be here a long time remembering his sayings he used to enliven his broadcasts. When you had the drudgery of recreation, you had to create a whole new world and invite people in."
Keiter returned to Hawai'i in the early 1970s, where he served as voice of the Hawai'i Islanders and UH sports.
He teammed with Moore to launch KHON atop the local news ratings.
Keiter's autobiography, "50 Years Behind the Microphone," is in the baseball Hall of Fame.
Keiter's death comes a day after Harry Kalas died. Both began their broadcast careers in Hawai'i and both became popular sportscasters in Philadelphia.
In 1982, both were hired to announce the first Aloha Bowl.
Lenny Klompus, the senior communcations advisor to Gov. Linda Lingle, was the executive director of the Aloha Bowl.
The deaths of Keiter and Kalas, Klompus said, "remind me of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both passing away on July 4 of the same year. Maybe they're calling a game upstairs. I feel like I lost brothers today."
By Stephen Tsai
We’ll miss The General -- by Dave Reardon
Les Keiter remembered
Bill Kwon remembers The General
Ron Mizutani remembers his mentor
***
[6/10/18] Recreating Keiter
Aloha Harry Kalas
Harry Kalas died today.
You’ve heard his voice.
If you’re a youngster, you know it from NFL Films and the Chunky Soup commercials.
If you’re from Philadelphia, you know it because he was the longtime voice of the 2008 World Champs.
If you work at the Star-Bulletin, you’ve heard Jerry Campany’s impersonation of Kalas’ staccato baritone “Outta .. Here … Home Run … ” anytime one of his fantasy players knocked one out of the park.
But if you’re a Hawaii sports fan in your late 50s or older, you and Harry Kalas go way back, to the early 1960s when Kalas was the Islanders’ first play-by-pay guy. Before Al Michaels, before Hank Greenwald, before Les Keiter even. His success also helped pave the way for guys of the next generation, like Larry Biel and Neal Everett. Hawaii became a cradle for sportscasting greatness, with Kalas among the pioneers.
Kalas also did high school and UH games while here, and always got the local names right.
I’m a little too young to remember Kalas (I was born the same year as the Islanders, 1961), but everyone I know who knew him said he was a great guy … and they said it before he died, and no one talked stink about him, as often happens in the sports media business that is often cursed with over-inflated egos and petty professional jealousy.
His death today (on the job, by the way) is clearly a huge loss to baseball and football. And he will be missed by many sports fans in Hawaii.
-– By Dave Reardon
You’ve heard his voice.
If you’re a youngster, you know it from NFL Films and the Chunky Soup commercials.
If you’re from Philadelphia, you know it because he was the longtime voice of the 2008 World Champs.
If you work at the Star-Bulletin, you’ve heard Jerry Campany’s impersonation of Kalas’ staccato baritone “Outta .. Here … Home Run … ” anytime one of his fantasy players knocked one out of the park.
But if you’re a Hawaii sports fan in your late 50s or older, you and Harry Kalas go way back, to the early 1960s when Kalas was the Islanders’ first play-by-pay guy. Before Al Michaels, before Hank Greenwald, before Les Keiter even. His success also helped pave the way for guys of the next generation, like Larry Biel and Neal Everett. Hawaii became a cradle for sportscasting greatness, with Kalas among the pioneers.
Kalas also did high school and UH games while here, and always got the local names right.
I’m a little too young to remember Kalas (I was born the same year as the Islanders, 1961), but everyone I know who knew him said he was a great guy … and they said it before he died, and no one talked stink about him, as often happens in the sports media business that is often cursed with over-inflated egos and petty professional jealousy.
His death today (on the job, by the way) is clearly a huge loss to baseball and football. And he will be missed by many sports fans in Hawaii.
-– By Dave Reardon
Monday, April 13, 2009
Mark Fidrych
BOSTON (AP) — Whether he was dominating hitters or hauling asphalt, Mark Fidrych had fun.
The colorful pitcher talked to baseballs, smoothed the mound with his hands and high-fived teammates in the middle of the diamond. He had one terrific season in 1976, and after injuries curtailed his career — just five years in the majors with the Detroit Tigers — he lived on his farm in Northborough, Mass., where he enjoyed driving his truck and using it for building projects.
On Monday, Fidrych was found dead beneath a 10-wheel dump truck by Joseph Amorello, a friend and owner of a road construction company who sometimes hired Fidrych. He was 54.
"Everybody wanted him on their crew," Amorello said in a telephone interview. "He was a hard worker, but, at the same time, he always had a smile on his face."
The colorful pitcher talked to baseballs, smoothed the mound with his hands and high-fived teammates in the middle of the diamond. He had one terrific season in 1976, and after injuries curtailed his career — just five years in the majors with the Detroit Tigers — he lived on his farm in Northborough, Mass., where he enjoyed driving his truck and using it for building projects.
On Monday, Fidrych was found dead beneath a 10-wheel dump truck by Joseph Amorello, a friend and owner of a road construction company who sometimes hired Fidrych. He was 54.
"Everybody wanted him on their crew," Amorello said in a telephone interview. "He was a hard worker, but, at the same time, he always had a smile on his face."
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Bolla out
Jim Bolla is no longer the coach of the University of Hawaii women’s basketball team, according to a three-paragraph news release issued by athletics director Jim Donovan today.
Bolla, 57, head coach of the Rainbow Wahine the last five years, was on paid leave since Feb. 13 and missed the final nine games of the 2008-09 season after allegations surfaced that he kicked a player during a fall practice.
A university source said a negotiated settlement was in the works for his removal. But Bolla said last night he would file a grievance through his union on any UH decision and declined further comment.
Donovan’s release said a search committee would be formed immediately and UH hopes to have a new coach soon.
Bolla, hired for the 2004-05 season to replace Vince Goo, had two years remaining on his contract at roughly $120,000 per year. Then-athletic director Herman Frazier gave Bolla a four-year extension on his original three-year contract during the summer of 2007.
[4/8/09, posted 4/23/09]
Bolla, 57, head coach of the Rainbow Wahine the last five years, was on paid leave since Feb. 13 and missed the final nine games of the 2008-09 season after allegations surfaced that he kicked a player during a fall practice.
A university source said a negotiated settlement was in the works for his removal. But Bolla said last night he would file a grievance through his union on any UH decision and declined further comment.
Donovan’s release said a search committee would be formed immediately and UH hopes to have a new coach soon.
Bolla, hired for the 2004-05 season to replace Vince Goo, had two years remaining on his contract at roughly $120,000 per year. Then-athletic director Herman Frazier gave Bolla a four-year extension on his original three-year contract during the summer of 2007.
[4/8/09, posted 4/23/09]
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Mugiishi retires
'Iolani boys basketball coach Dr. Mark Mugiishi announced his retirement last night after 20 years of leading the Raiders.
Mugiishi won a record seven state championships (1994, '98, '02, '03, '04, '05 and '06) and compiled an overall record of 463-125.
He also led the team to 10 Interscholastic League of Honolulu titles and 16 state tournament appearances.
"The championships and the wins under Coach Mugiishi are terrific and mean a lot to our school community," 'Iolani headmaster Dr. Val Iwashita said in a news release. "But the lives he has impacted and changed in positive, meaningful ways are his most priceless contribution."
The release stated that Mugiishi, a practicing surgeon at Central Medical Clinic and member of the 'Iolani Board of Governors, stepped down because of increased demands on his time.
"It's been a great run," Mugiishi said. "But at this point, something had to give."
Under Mugiishi, an 'Iolani graduate, the 'Iolani Prep Classic grew into one of the top prep tournaments in the country.
Two of Mugiishi's most notable players were Derrick Low, who went on to play at Washington State, and Bobby Nash, who played at Hawaii.
Mugiishi won a record seven state championships (1994, '98, '02, '03, '04, '05 and '06) and compiled an overall record of 463-125.
He also led the team to 10 Interscholastic League of Honolulu titles and 16 state tournament appearances.
"The championships and the wins under Coach Mugiishi are terrific and mean a lot to our school community," 'Iolani headmaster Dr. Val Iwashita said in a news release. "But the lives he has impacted and changed in positive, meaningful ways are his most priceless contribution."
The release stated that Mugiishi, a practicing surgeon at Central Medical Clinic and member of the 'Iolani Board of Governors, stepped down because of increased demands on his time.
"It's been a great run," Mugiishi said. "But at this point, something had to give."
Under Mugiishi, an 'Iolani graduate, the 'Iolani Prep Classic grew into one of the top prep tournaments in the country.
Two of Mugiishi's most notable players were Derrick Low, who went on to play at Washington State, and Bobby Nash, who played at Hawaii.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Jordan, Stockton, Robinson, Sloan in Hall of Fame
It was only a matter of time, and now Michael Jordan is in the Hall of Fame.
Jordan was elected to the class of 2009 Monday with David Robinson, John Stockton, Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer.
The announcement was made in Detroit, site of the men's Final Four. Induction is Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass., home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Jordan's Hall of Fame selection was a slam dunk after he retired as perhaps the greatest player in history. And he gave much of the credit Monday to his college coach.
"There's no way you guys would have got a chance to see Michael Jordan play without Dean Smith," he said.
His soaring dunks, Nike commercials and "Air Jordan" nickname helped stamp him as one the most recognizable athletes around the world. He finished a 15-year career with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards with 32,292 points -- the third-highest total in league history, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. His final career average of 30.12 goes down as the best, just ahead of Wilt Chamberlain's 30.07.
The five-time NBA MVP won six championships with the Bulls and another in college with North Carolina. The Tar Heels play Michigan State in the national championship game Monday night.
Tar Heels coach Roy Williams was an assistant with Carolina on that 1982 national championship team and was at Monday's induction, where Ty Lawson won the Bob Cousy award, given to the nation's top point guard.
Jordan retired twice during his career. He first came back to the Bulls in 1994 and won three more championships before retiring again in 1998. He then had an ill-fated two-year stint with the Washington Wizards before calling it quits for good in 2003.
Monday, he joked that when he saw Stockton and Robinson he was ready to put his shorts on again.
Jordan won two of his titles in the 1990s against Sloan, Stockton and the Utah Jazz. Stockton spent his entire career with the Jazz and finished with 19,711 points, 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals. He also holds NBA records for most assists in a season (1,164 in 1990-91) and highest assist average in a season (14.5 in 1989-90).
"Growing up I never thought about the Hall of Fame," he said. "All I wanted was a chance to go to college."
Utah took Stockton in the first round of the 1984 draft, using the No. 16 pick on a relatively unknown player from Gonzaga who became one of the top point guards.
"I haven't given this much thought over the course of a lifetime," he said. "I'm not sure it quite strikes home until you're standing here."
Robinson, who earned the nickname "The Admiral" from his college career at Navy, joined Stockton and Jordan as members of the NBA's 50th anniversary team.
He had a stellar 14-year career with the San Antonio Spurs that included two NBA championships, an MVP season, a rookie of the year award, 10 All-Star selections, a scoring title and two Olympic gold medals.
Robinson, too, credited his coaches over the years who "kicked me when I need to be kicked and hugged me when I needed to be hugged."
Sloan, who did not attend the ceremony, is the longest tenured head coach in major league sports with a single franchise. A two-time All-Star during his playing days with the Bulls, Sloan is the only NBA coach to win more than 1,000 games with a single team. He has the Jazz in seventh place in the Western Conference standings going into Monday night's games.
Stringer has led three separate teams to the Final Four in her 38-year career and has an 825-280 mark spanning four decades. She trails only Pat Summitt and Jody Conradt on the victories list. Stringer guided Rutgers to its fifth straight regional semifinals trip this season.
"My knees are weak, and to think I would be standing here with these great, great, men of basketball," Stringer said. "It's not ever about me. It's about the players who all make it happen."
Jordan was elected to the class of 2009 Monday with David Robinson, John Stockton, Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer.
The announcement was made in Detroit, site of the men's Final Four. Induction is Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass., home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Jordan's Hall of Fame selection was a slam dunk after he retired as perhaps the greatest player in history. And he gave much of the credit Monday to his college coach.
"There's no way you guys would have got a chance to see Michael Jordan play without Dean Smith," he said.
His soaring dunks, Nike commercials and "Air Jordan" nickname helped stamp him as one the most recognizable athletes around the world. He finished a 15-year career with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards with 32,292 points -- the third-highest total in league history, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. His final career average of 30.12 goes down as the best, just ahead of Wilt Chamberlain's 30.07.
The five-time NBA MVP won six championships with the Bulls and another in college with North Carolina. The Tar Heels play Michigan State in the national championship game Monday night.
Tar Heels coach Roy Williams was an assistant with Carolina on that 1982 national championship team and was at Monday's induction, where Ty Lawson won the Bob Cousy award, given to the nation's top point guard.
Jordan retired twice during his career. He first came back to the Bulls in 1994 and won three more championships before retiring again in 1998. He then had an ill-fated two-year stint with the Washington Wizards before calling it quits for good in 2003.
Monday, he joked that when he saw Stockton and Robinson he was ready to put his shorts on again.
Jordan won two of his titles in the 1990s against Sloan, Stockton and the Utah Jazz. Stockton spent his entire career with the Jazz and finished with 19,711 points, 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals. He also holds NBA records for most assists in a season (1,164 in 1990-91) and highest assist average in a season (14.5 in 1989-90).
"Growing up I never thought about the Hall of Fame," he said. "All I wanted was a chance to go to college."
Utah took Stockton in the first round of the 1984 draft, using the No. 16 pick on a relatively unknown player from Gonzaga who became one of the top point guards.
"I haven't given this much thought over the course of a lifetime," he said. "I'm not sure it quite strikes home until you're standing here."
Robinson, who earned the nickname "The Admiral" from his college career at Navy, joined Stockton and Jordan as members of the NBA's 50th anniversary team.
He had a stellar 14-year career with the San Antonio Spurs that included two NBA championships, an MVP season, a rookie of the year award, 10 All-Star selections, a scoring title and two Olympic gold medals.
Robinson, too, credited his coaches over the years who "kicked me when I need to be kicked and hugged me when I needed to be hugged."
Sloan, who did not attend the ceremony, is the longest tenured head coach in major league sports with a single franchise. A two-time All-Star during his playing days with the Bulls, Sloan is the only NBA coach to win more than 1,000 games with a single team. He has the Jazz in seventh place in the Western Conference standings going into Monday night's games.
Stringer has led three separate teams to the Final Four in her 38-year career and has an 825-280 mark spanning four decades. She trails only Pat Summitt and Jody Conradt on the victories list. Stringer guided Rutgers to its fifth straight regional semifinals trip this season.
"My knees are weak, and to think I would be standing here with these great, great, men of basketball," Stringer said. "It's not ever about me. It's about the players who all make it happen."
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Brandon Knight named Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 31, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ----In its third decade of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in partnership with ESPN RISE, today announced junior point guard Brandon Knight of Pine Crest School (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) as its 2008-09 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Knight is the first student-athlete from the state of Florida to win Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors.
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 Knight as the nation's best high school boys basketball player. A national advisory board comprised of sportswriters and sport-specific experts from around the country helped select Knight from more than 552,000 high school boys basketball players nationwide. Knight is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year Award, to be presented at a special afternoon ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound junior point guard led the Panthers to their second consecutive Class 3A state title, averaging 31.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and three steals per game this season. Knight scored 27 points, pulled down nine rebounds and dished four assists in a 60-44 win over Jones High in the state final. A two-time First Team All-State selection and the Panhandle Sports Broadcasting 2009 Class 3A Tournament MVP, Knight shattered his own school single-season record by more than 200 points, finishing with 968 points this winter. He also set a school record by sinking 127 three-pointers, shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc. Knight committed only 63 turnovers in 864 minutes-played this past season.
Ranked as the No. 5 recruit in the class of 2010 on the ESPNU Super 60 and the No. 2 recruit in his class as rated by Rivals.com, Knight holds the following school records: points in a game (55); career points (2,589); career assists (594); single-season points (968); career 3-pointers (259); single-season 3-pointers (127); single-game assists (16) and single-season free throw percentage (81). A varsity player since eighth grade, he has pulled down more than 900 career rebounds.
Knight will begin his senior year of high school this fall. He becomes just the 11th high school junior (of 204 honorees) to win Gatorade National Player of the Year honors in any sport, joining LeBron James (2001-02 & 2002-03/Boys Basketball/Akron, OH), Greg Oden (2004-05 & 2005-06/Boys Basketball/Indianapolis, IN), Candace Parker (2002-03 & 2003-04/Girls Basketball/Naperville, IL), Matt Barkley (2007-08/Football/Santa Ana, CA), Kenzie Fowler (2007-08/Softball/Tucson, AZ), Ashley Brasovan (2007-08/Girls Cross Country/Wellington, FL), Melissa Henderson (2006-07/Girls Soccer/Richardson, TX), Marion Jones (1990-91, 1991-92 & 1992-93/Girls Track & Field/Thousand Oaks, CA), Bianca Knight (2005-06/Girls Track & Field/Ridgeland, MS) and Cynthia Barboza (2003-04 & 2004-05/Volleyball/Long Beach, CA).
For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information and lists of past winners and future announcement dates, visit gatorade.com/playeroftheyear.
ALL-TIME GATORADE NATIONAL BOYS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
SOURCE Gatorade
Copyright (C: 2.65, 0.13, 5.16%) 2009 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
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 Knight as the nation's best high school boys basketball player. A national advisory board comprised of sportswriters and sport-specific experts from around the country helped select Knight from more than 552,000 high school boys basketball players nationwide. Knight is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year Award, to be presented at a special afternoon ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound junior point guard led the Panthers to their second consecutive Class 3A state title, averaging 31.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and three steals per game this season. Knight scored 27 points, pulled down nine rebounds and dished four assists in a 60-44 win over Jones High in the state final. A two-time First Team All-State selection and the Panhandle Sports Broadcasting 2009 Class 3A Tournament MVP, Knight shattered his own school single-season record by more than 200 points, finishing with 968 points this winter. He also set a school record by sinking 127 three-pointers, shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc. Knight committed only 63 turnovers in 864 minutes-played this past season.
Ranked as the No. 5 recruit in the class of 2010 on the ESPNU Super 60 and the No. 2 recruit in his class as rated by Rivals.com, Knight holds the following school records: points in a game (55); career points (2,589); career assists (594); single-season points (968); career 3-pointers (259); single-season 3-pointers (127); single-game assists (16) and single-season free throw percentage (81). A varsity player since eighth grade, he has pulled down more than 900 career rebounds.
Knight will begin his senior year of high school this fall. He becomes just the 11th high school junior (of 204 honorees) to win Gatorade National Player of the Year honors in any sport, joining LeBron James (2001-02 & 2002-03/Boys Basketball/Akron, OH), Greg Oden (2004-05 & 2005-06/Boys Basketball/Indianapolis, IN), Candace Parker (2002-03 & 2003-04/Girls Basketball/Naperville, IL), Matt Barkley (2007-08/Football/Santa Ana, CA), Kenzie Fowler (2007-08/Softball/Tucson, AZ), Ashley Brasovan (2007-08/Girls Cross Country/Wellington, FL), Melissa Henderson (2006-07/Girls Soccer/Richardson, TX), Marion Jones (1990-91, 1991-92 & 1992-93/Girls Track & Field/Thousand Oaks, CA), Bianca Knight (2005-06/Girls Track & Field/Ridgeland, MS) and Cynthia Barboza (2003-04 & 2004-05/Volleyball/Long Beach, CA).
For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information and lists of past winners and future announcement dates, visit gatorade.com/playeroftheyear.
ALL-TIME GATORADE NATIONAL BOYS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Year Name High School Status
2008-09 Brandon Knight Pine Crest School/ High School
Fort Lauderdale, FL Senior
2007-08 Jrue Holiday Campbell Hall/ UCLA
North Hollywood, CA
2006-07 Kevin Love Lake Oswego/ Minnesota
Lake Oswego, OR Timberwolves
2005-06 Greg Oden Lawrence North/ Portland
Indianapolis, IN Trail Blazers
2004-05 Greg Oden Lawrence North/ Portland
Indianapolis, IN Trail Blazers
2003-04 Dwight Howard SW Atlanta Christian Orlando Magic
Academy/Atlanta, GA
2002-03 LeBron James St. Vincent-St. Mary Cleveland
Akron, OH Cavaliers
2001-02 LeBron James St. Vincent-St. Mary Cleveland
Akron, OH Cavaliers
2000-01 Kelvin Torbert Northwestern Edison Michigan St.
Flint, MI Univ. Grad.
1999-00 Jared Jeffries North New York
Bloomington, IN Knicks
1998-99 LaVell Blanchard Pioneer Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI Grad.
1997-98 Al Harrington St. Patrick/ New York
Elizabeth, NJ Knicks
1996-97 Baron Davis Crossroads/ Los Angeles
Santa Monica, CA Clippers
1995-96 Kobe Bryant Lower Merion/ Los Angeles
Ardmore, PA Lakers
1994-95 Stephon Marbury Abraham Lincoln/ Boston
Brooklyn, NY Celtics
1993-94 Felipe Lopez Rice/New York, NY Gaiteros del
Zulia
1992-93 Randy Livingston Isidore Newman/ Retired from
New Orleans, LA NBA
1991-92 Corliss Russellville/ Retired from
Williamson Russellville, AR NBA
1990-91 Chris Webber Detroit County Day/ Retired from
Birmingham, MI NBA
1989-90 Damon Bailey Bedford No. Lawrence Retired from
Bedford, IN NBA
1988-89 Kenny Anderson Archbishop Molloy/ Retired from
Jamaica, NY NBA
1987-88 Alonzo Mourning Indian River/ Retired from
Chesapeake, VA NBA
1986-87 LaBradford Smith Bay City/ Retired from
Bay City, TX NBA
1985-86 J.R. Reid Kempsville/ Retired from
Virginia Beach, VA NBA
SOURCE Gatorade
Copyright (C: 2.65, 0.13, 5.16%) 2009 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
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