FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2004
 CONTACT: TILEA COLEMAN
(770) 279-8027 ext. 112

NATION'S TOP 20 HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE BASKETBALL SENIORS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN
2004 WBCA HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICA GAME

Atlanta, Ga. - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) is pleased to announce its 2004 High School All-America Team, comprised of 20 of the best high school senior female basketball players in the nation.

The 20 players who have been selected to participate in this year's WBCA High School All-America Game, presented by Nike, will be assigned to two, 10-player teams. The college-style regulation game is scheduled for Saturday, April 3, at Tulane University's Fogelman Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game is scheduled to tip-off during the "WBCA Night of All-Stars" at 4:30 p.m. (CDT), followed by the WBCA All-Star Challenge, which will feature 20 of the top senior collegiate players in the nation versus the USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team. The "WBCA Night of All-Stars" tips-off the 23rd Annual WBCA National Convention, which takes place at the site of the NCAA Women's Final Four.

"This is an outstanding class of talent and will be a truly amazing evening with three generations of the best players in women's basketball," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "Fans will have the opportunity to watch the best high school players in the country, the best college players in the country, and the best our country has to offer. As always, the WBCA is extremely pleased to present the High School All-America Game along with Nike. This year's game is guaranteed to carry on the tradition and excitement of its predecessors."

Below is a list of players to participate in this year's WBCA High School All-America Game:

NAME
HOMETOWN
HIGH SCHOOL
SIGNED
Matee Ajavon Newark, NJ Shabazz HS Rutgers University
Nkolika Anosike Staten Island, NY St. Peters Girl’s HS University of Tennessee
Erneisha Bailey Kansas City, MO Pembroke Hill School University of Texas
Chante Black Kernersville, NC East Forsyth HS Duke University
Natasha Bogdanova Charlotte, NC Charlotte Christian School Purdue University
Essence Carson Paterson, NJ Eastside HS Rutgers University
Sylvia Fowles Miami, FL Gulliver Prep School Louisiana State University
Alex Fuller Shelbyville, TN Shelbyville Central HS University of Tennessee
Laura Harper Wyncote, PA Cheltenham HS University of Maryland
Alexis Hornbuckle Charleston, WV South Charleston HS University of Tennessee
Natasha Humphrey Gainesville, GA Gainesville HS University of Georgia
Crystal Kelly Louisville, KY Sacred Heart Academy Undecided
Crystal Langhorne Willingboro, NJ Willingboro HS University of Maryland
Erlana Larkins N. Palm Beach, FL The Benjamin School University of North Carolina
Marscilla Packer Pickerington, OH Pickerington North HS Ohio State University
Candace Parker Naperville, IL Naperville Central HS University of Tennessee
Allie Quigley Joliet, IL Joliet Catholic Academy DePaul University
Wanisha Smith Upper Marlboro, MD Riverdale Baptist Duke University
Mel Thomas Cincinnati, OH Mt. Notre Dame HS University of Connecticut
Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood Lynwood, CA Lynwood HS University of Tennessee

*Charde Houston (San Diego HS, San Diego, CA) and Candice Wiggins (La Jolla Country Day HS, La Jolla, CA) were selected as members of the 2004 WBCA High School All-America Team; however, due to prior commitments, they are unable to participate in this year's game.

The All-America squad was selected by a committee of WBCA-member high school coaches who represent nine geographical districts from across the nation. The 2004 WBCA High School All-America Selection Committee is comprised of: Leslie Davis (District 1 - Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School - Cambridge, Mass.), Mary Klinger (District 2 - Rutgers Prep School - Somerset, N.J.), Kenny Carter (District 3 - High Point Central High School - High Point, N.C.), Derril Kipp (District 4 - Maine West High School - Des Plaines, Ill.), Gary Glasscock (District 5 - St. Louis Metro Academy and Classical High School - St. Louis, Mo.), Teri Morrison (District 6 - Dr. Ralph H. Poteet High School - Mesquite, Texas), Caryn Jarocki (District 7 - Highlands Ranch High School - Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Don Witzel (District 8 - Colony High School - Palmer, AK) and Jack Harlow (District 9 - Bradley Central High School - Cleveland, Tenn.).

This marks the 13th year that the WBCA has sanctioned a girls' high school All-America Team. The inaugural WBCA High School All-America Game was held April 17, 1992 at Oman Arena in Jackson, Tenn. The second and third annual games were also played at Oman Arena. The 1995 game, which marked the beginning of Nike's title sponsorship was played in Altoona, Penn. The event moved east to Philadelphia in 1996 and south to Nashville in 1997. The game was then held in Hartford from 1998 until 2002.

In addition, the following 20 players have been cited as Honorable Mention High School All-Americans:

NAME
HOMETOWN
HIGH SCHOOL
Quianna Chaney Baton Rouge, LA Southern Lab HS
Kristen Forristall Oregon City, OR Oregon City HS
Takisha Granberry Charlotte, NC West Charlotte HS
Darrice Griffin Seagraves, TX Seagraves HS
Jillian Ingram Charlotte, NC Providence Day School
Shamika Jackson Manchester, CT East Catholic HS
Tyeisha Jackson Humble, TX Westfield HS
Laura Kurz Fort Washington, PA Germantown Academy
Lauren Lacey Chicago Heights, IL Marian Catholic HS
Camille LeNoir Harbor City, CA Narbonne HS
Cissy Pierce Littleton, CO Heritage HS
Lindsey Pluimer San Clemente, CA San Clemente HS
Viktoria Sholokhova Vineland, NJ Sacred Heart HS
Caprice Smith River Forest, IL Trinity HS
Amber Sprague Mission Bay, CA Mission Bay HS
Adrienne Squire Trafalgar, IN Indian Creek HS
Erica White Jacksonville, FL Ribault HS
Natasha Williams Skokie, IL Niles North HS
Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton Naperville, IL Neuqua Valley HS
Sharnee Zoll Marlboro, NJ Highland HS

Fans can order tickets by calling the Tulane University Ticket Office at 504-861-9283, calling Ticketmaster at 504-522-5555 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets for the "WBCA Night of All-Stars" are $25.00 for Reserved Side Court and $15.00 for Reserved End Court.

Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport of women's basketball and to foster and promote the development of the game of basketball as an amateur sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, visit WBCA.org.

--WBCA--