September 5, 2000

FURMAN SIGNEE NAMED NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Alison Thomason of Pickens High School in Jasper, Ga., has been selected the National Senior High School Women's Basketball Athlete of the Year for 2000, the NHSCA announced last week. Thomason is one of four signees with the Furman women's basketball program.

The 5-11 Thomason led Pickens High School to the Women's Final Four in Georgia and was the winner of the Naismith Award as the state's top female athlete as a junior and senior. As a junior, she averaged 25.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, while adding 59 blocks and 66 steals. In addition, she shot 59.2% from the field and 71.1% from the free throw line. She was also featured in Sports Illustrated for Women and maintained a 4.0 grade point average.

"Athletes like Alison Thomason are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today," said NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro. "She has worked extremely hard to develop her skills and has become one of the best athletes not only in the state of Georgia, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring her."

Thomason joins Laney Harris (Loganville, Ga./Loganville High), Deshara Shealey (Greenbay, Va./Prince Edward County), and Kim Lawrence (Atlanta, Ga./Woodward) in comprising the Lady Paladins' 2000-01 freshman class.