Naismith Award

Danny Ferry of Duke and Clarissa Davis of Texas have been selected as recipients of the 1989 Naismith Award as college basketball players of the year.

NORTH AMERICAN FINALISTS * JIM BOEHEIM, a native of Lyons, N.Y., has led the Syracuse Orangemen since 1976, amassing more than 650 wins, including a victory over Kansas in the 2003 NCAA championship game, eight Big East regular-season championships, three Big East tournament titles, 23 NCAA tournament appearances, four NIT invitations and three Final Four appearances (1987, 1996, 2003). * HUBIE BROWN, born in Hazleton, Pa., is known for his coaching and broadcasting.

Lionel Simmons of LaSalle, who finished his career as college basketball's third leading scorer, today was named the winner of the Eastman Award as college basketball's top player. It was the second major player-of-the-year award for Simmons, winner of the Naismith Award. He also is a finalist for the two other major prizes: the Rupp and Wooden awards. The Eastman winner is selected by the National Assn. of Basketball Coaches.

Diana Taurasi did not waste time serving notice that she would eventually become one of the top girls' basketball players in the nation. In the third game of her freshman season at Chino Don Lugo, Taurasi grabbed a rebound in the final seconds, dribbled upcourt and made a three-point shot at the buzzer to send the game against Victor Valley into overtime. Taurasi finished with 51 points in the victory.

NORTH AMERICAN FINALISTS * JIM BOEHEIM, a native of Lyons, N.Y., has led the Syracuse Orangemen since 1976, amassing more than 650 wins, including a victory over Kansas in the 2003 NCAA championship game, eight Big East regular-season championships, three Big East tournament titles, 23 NCAA tournament appearances, four NIT invitations and three Final Four appearances (1987, 1996, 2003). * HUBIE BROWN, born in Hazleton, Pa., is known for his coaching and broadcasting.

Antawn Jamison of North Carolina, Raef LaFrentz of Kansas and Mike Bibby of Arizona head the list of finalists for the 1998 Naismith Player of the Year award. Heading the list for female player of the year are Chamique Holdsclaw of Tennessee, Nykesha Sales of Connecticut and Ticha Penicherio of Old Dominion, the Atlanta Tipoff Club said. . . .

Diana Taurasi did not waste time serving notice that she would eventually become one of the top girls' basketball players in the nation. In the third game of her freshman season at Chino Don Lugo, Taurasi grabbed a rebound in the final seconds, dribbled upcourt and made a three-point shot at the buzzer to send the game against Victor Valley into overtime. Taurasi finished with 51 points in the victory.

Navy center David Robinson and Texas' Clarissa Davis were named as winners of the 1987 Naismith Trophies Thursday, given annually to the players of the year in men's and women's college basketball, in voting by more than 400 coaches, sportswriters and other basketball officials. The Naismith Award is presented by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Robinson, a senior, outpolled Steve Alford of Indiana, Kenny Smith of North Carolina, Danny Manning of Kansas and Reggie Williams of Georgetown.

The NCAA is widening its investigation of Purdue's basketball program, looking into possible recruiting violations and improper conduct by boosters in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue has until May 19 to respond. . . . Arizona's Bibby, already a candidate for the Naismith Award, and teammate Simon lead three sets of teammates and 15 as finalists for the Wooden Award. UCLA forward J.R. Henderson was also a Wooden nominee.

USC demolished Washington State, 101-59, before 776 at the Lyon Center on Thursday night, clinching a bid to the women's NCAA tournament. The Trojans' Naismith Award candidate, Tina Thompson, entered the game tied for the Pacific 10 Conference scoring lead at 22.1 with Stanford's Kate Starbird. Thompson moved ahead, scoring 21 by halftime and finishing with 29 in 25 minutes, while Starbird was held to 15 in Stanford's victory at Arizona.

Antawn Jamison of North Carolina, Raef LaFrentz of Kansas and Mike Bibby of Arizona head the list of finalists for the 1998 Naismith Player of the Year award. Heading the list for female player of the year are Chamique Holdsclaw of Tennessee, Nykesha Sales of Connecticut and Ticha Penicherio of Old Dominion, the Atlanta Tipoff Club said. . . .

Finalists for the Naismith Award as male and female college basketball players of the year have been selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Men in contention are Jim Jackson of Ohio State, Christian Laettner of Duke, Harold Miner of USC, Alonzo Mourning of Georgetown and Shaquille O'Neal of Louisiana State. Women nominees are Dena Head of Tennessee, MaChelle Joseph of Purdue, Susan Robinson of Penn State, Dawn Staley of Virginia and Val Whiting of Stanford.

Lionel Simmons of LaSalle, who finished his career as college basketball's third leading scorer, today was named the winner of the Eastman Award as college basketball's top player. It was the second major player-of-the-year award for Simmons, winner of the Naismith Award. He also is a finalist for the two other major prizes: the Rupp and Wooden awards. The Eastman winner is selected by the National Assn. of Basketball Coaches.

* STANFORD (15-1, 3-0) at USC (9-3, 3-0) Time--2 p.m. Naismith Award nominees Tina Thompson of USC and Kate Starbird of Stanford are matched in this meeting at the Lyon Center. Two Stanford starters, point guard Jamila Wideman (ankle) and forward Vanessa Nygaard (knee), were injured in Friday night's 74-62 victory at UCLA. * CALIFORNIA (5-7, 1-2) at UCLA (7-5, 1-2) Time--4 p.m. At the Wooden Center, Coach Kathy Olivier's Bruins seek to get back to .