CLOVIS HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT NAMED GATORADE® NEW MEXICO GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (March 12, 2015) - In its 30th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Danni Williams of Clovis High School as its 2014-15 Gatorade New Mexico Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Williams is the second Gatorade New Mexico Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Clovis High School.
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 Williams as New Mexico's best high school girls basketball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award announced in March, Williams joins an elite alumni association of past state girls basketball award-winners, including Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Diana Taurasi (1998-99 & 1999-00, Don Antonio Lugo HS, Calif.), Maya Moore (2005-06 Collins Hill HS, Ga.), Rashanda McCants (2004-05, Asheville HS, N.C.), Shyra Ely (1999-00, Ben Davis HS, Ind.) and Lisa Leslie (1988-89, Morningside HS, Calif.).
The 5-foot-10 senior guard had led the Wildcats to a 26-2 record and a berth in the Class 6A state quarterfinals at the time of her selection. The state's two-time returning Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Williams averaged 25.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.6 assists through 28 games. Also a two-time Class 5A First Team All-State selection as named by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association, Williams was shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 70.7 percent from the free-throw line entering the round of eight. She led Clovis to the 2013 Class 5A state title as a sophomore and will conclude her prep career with the school's single-season and career scoring records.
Also a volleyball standout, Williams has maintained a 4.22 weighted GPA in the classroom and ranks No. 1 in her graduating class. A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society and her school's Spanish Club, she has volunteered locally on behalf of her church's youth group and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
"Danni has been keyed on by every team we have played, and she still produces," said Clovis head coach Jeff Reed. " She is the last person to leave the gym floor after practice, because she is working on her shooting. She loves basketball and understands the importance of this award and will represent it well."
Williams has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at Texas A&M University this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Three-time winner Williams joins Gatorade New Mexico Girls Basketball Players of the Year Gina Okoye (2011-12, Eldorado High School), Justina Prairie Chief (2010-11, Gallup High School), Kya DeGarmo (2009-10, Eldorado), Megan Muniz (2008-09, Rio Rancho), Brenna Freeze (2007-08, La Cueva), and Madison Spence (2006-07, Mayfield) among the state's list of former award winners.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.
