Brooks named state coach of the year

James Madison women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks has been named the Coach of the Year by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID).

Brooks guided the Dukes to a school-record 29 wins, a 29-8 record and a runner-up finish in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.  He earned the VaSID Coach of the Year award for the third time in the past six years after also winning the honor in 2007 and 2010.

Also recognized was Dukes’ junior point guard Tarik Hislop (Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch), who was selected to the All-State Second Team.

Brooks’ 2012 team advanced to the WNIT championship game with wins over Virginia, Wake Forest, Syracuse, South Florida and Davidson.  His squad led Virginia teams in winning percentage (.784) and RPI (#29) and finished second in the Colonial Athletic Association regular season.

Hislop was the Dukes’ leading scorer, averaging 14.8 points per game.  She also averaged a team-high 3.5 assists per game and was named to the WNIT All-Tournament Team after averaging 15.3 points in six tournament contests.  Hislop was also a 2012 All-CAA Second Team selection.

Others recognized by VaSID included Courtney Hurt of Virginia Commonwealth as Player of the Year and Reagan Miller of Liberty as Rookie of the Year.

Hurt, a senior from Conyers, Ga., led the country in rebounding at 13.1 per game and finished ninth in the nation in scoring at 22.3 points per game.  The Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention forward was the only player ranked in the top 10 in NCAA Division I in both points and rebounds.

Miller, a freshman guard from Sanger, Texas, helped lead the Flames to the Big South Tournament Championship.  She averaged 9.1 points per game and 4.0 assists.

The all-state honors were selected by a vote of members of VaSID.

2012 VaSID All-State Women’s Basketball

Coach of the Year: Kenny Brooks, James Madison

Player of the Year: Courtney Hurt, VCU

Rookie of the Year: Reagan Miller, Liberty

First Team

Player, School, Class, Position

Courtney Hurt, VCU, Senior, Forward

Devon Brown, Liberty, Junior, Forward

Taleia Moton, George Mason, Senior, Guard

Abby Oliver, Richmond, Senior, Guard

Jericka Jenkins, Hampton, Senior, Guard

Second Team

Player, School, Class, Position

Ariana Moorer, Virginia, Senior, Guard

Avery Warley, Liberty, Senior, Center

Tarik Hislop, James Madison, Junior, Guard

Tia Lewis, Old Dominion, Senior, Forward

Da’Naria Erwin Spencer, Radford, Junior, Guard