JMU’s Kirby Burkholder, Kenny Brooks honored by state basketball writers

JMU senior guard Kirby Burkholder (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby) is the Virginia women’s basketball Player of the Year by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID) the organization announced, Tuesday. Head coach Kenny Brooks was voted the State Coach of the Year.

Burkholder was joined on the 2014 All-State team by senior guard/forward Nikki Newman (Harrisonburg, Va./Turner Ashby) and junior forward Toia Giggetts (Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor) who were both named to the Second Team.

Burkholder is the fifth JMU player to be named the VaSID Player of the Year from JMU joining Sydney Beasley (1987),Meredith Alexis (2007), Tamera Young (2008) and Dawn Evans (2011). She was the CAA Player of the Year, after averaging 18.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. She is a two-time First Team All-State honoree after collecting the recognition in 2013 as well.

Brooks wins VaSID Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time in his career. He adds it to his Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year honor after he led the Dukes to a 29-6 overall record and its third CAA championship in the last five years. The Dukes advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 after picking up the program’s first NCAA Tournament win since 1991 with a 72-63 victory over Gonzaga.

Joining Burkholder on the All-State First Team were Robyn Parks (VCU), Shae Kelley (ODU), Uju Ugoka (Virginia Tech) and Alyssa Bennett (Hampton). Joining Newman and Giggetts on the Second Team were Ashley Rininger (Liberty), Taylor Brown (George Mason), Rachel Gordon (Norfolk State), Ataira Franklin (Virginia), Nichole Hamilton (Hampton) and Maliea Tate-DeFreitas (Hampton).

Tate-DeFreitas was voted the State’s Rookie of the Year.

2013-14 VaSID All-State Team
VaSID Player of the Year – Kirby Burkholder, James Madison
VaSID Rookie of the Year – Malia Tate-DeFreitas, Fr., Hampton
VaSID Coach of the Year – Kenny Brooks, James Madison

First Team
Kirby Bukholder, James Madison
Robyn Parks, VCU
Shae Kelley, Old Dominion
Uju Ugoka, Virginia Tech
Alyssa Bennett, Hampton

Second Team
Ashley Rininger, Liberty
Taylor Brown, George Mason
Rachel Gordon, Norfolk State
Nikki Newman, James Madison
Ataira Franklin, Virginia
Toia Giggetts, James Madison
Nicole Hamilton, Hampton
Malia Tate-DeFreitas, Hampton