University of Houston Athletics
Jones named to another national award watch list
1/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2004
HOUSTON - University of Houston senior guard Chandi Jones has been selected as one of 30 candidates for the 2003-2004 Senior Class Awards presented by Bayer Advantage.
Jones, who led the nation in scoring with 27.5 points per game as a junior is averaging 20.2 points per game this season. She is one point away from becoming second on the All Time Conference USA scoring list and is on pace to break the scoring mark this season. A two time C-USA player of the year, Jones was voted pre season player of the year for 2003-04.
The award is presented annually to the top senior male and female NCAA Division I Players-of-the-Year. The award was launched during the 2001-02 season in response to the recent trend of college basketball players leaving school early to turn professional. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was developed to honor seniors for completing their collegiate athletic eligibility.
The idea first came from sportscaster Dick Enberg, who suggested such an award during the CBS telecast of the 2001 National Championship Game when Shane Battier led Duke to the title after returning to college for his senior season.
The inaugural award winners were Juan Dixon of Maryland and Sue Bird of Connecticut, followed last year by David West of Xavier and LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State.
Nominees for the 2003-04 have been selected based on performance and achievements from their junior season.
The men's winner will be announced on CBS television by Enberg during the NCAA Men's Final Four in San Antonio. The female winner will be announced during the NCAA Women's Final Four in New Orleans.
At the same time, the Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Award will also announce First-Team and Second-Team All-Senior All-America teams, based on results from the balloting.
