Renee Montgomery came to the UConn Alumni House with her teammates today to support coach Geno Auriemma, who was officially named the USA Basketball Women’s National Team coach. She left with knowledge that she had won the Honda Player of the Year award.
A source with direct knowledge of the voting confirmed that Montgomery has become the sixth player in team history to be honored. She joins Diana Taurasi (2002-03), Sue Bird (2001-02), Shea Ralph (1999-00), Jennifer Rizzotti (1995-96) and Rebecca Lobo (1994-95).
“It’s good to win any award,’’ Montgomery said. “Any time anybody chooses you as the Player of the Year, no matter what award it is, I’m appreciative of it because they only choose one player so it’s exciting. I thought all the awards were handed out so it’s a pleasant surprise. It’s nice. I’m excited.’’
Montgomery, who was chosen fourth overall by the Minnesota Lynx in last week’s WNBA Draft, is one of 12 players selected from 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. The winners are selected for superior athletic ability, leadership skills, academic excellence and their eagerness to participate in the community.
Each player is now eligible to win the Honda-Broderick Cup, which is awarded annually to the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. Rizzotti and Lobo are the only UConn players to receive this award.
“I think it’s like a bonus,’’ Montgomery said. “But everything that’s happened in the past week I thought things couldn’t get better and then to come here and now I know I’ve won the Honda Award. It looks like things just continue to get better. So it’s just always a blessing.’’
Geno said today that he does not expect to have to take any time off to tend to his duties as the U.S. Olympic coach.
Women’s National Team director Carol Callan said the committee will work with Geno’s availability and that of the players to schedule training camps. The next scheduled competition for Team USA is the FIBA 2010 World Championship in the Czech Republic Sept. 23 through Oct. 3.
“I don’t anticipate taking any time off,’’ Auriemma said. “My first commitment, my first priority is making sure that the players that I have in the program that we have here get my full attention. The USA Basketball program is something that I will do the way it needs to be done with the help of a lot of people. The only difference that I see is any time that I would have off from coaching UConn now is on. And I’m OK with that.’’
A recruiting source said today there has not yet been any scheduled visit for the Bria Hartley, a 5-10 point guard from North Babylon, N.Y. Hartley, a primary target for the Huskies, is trying to get to campus to attend a class.
There are three key recruiting events this weekend that the UConn coaching staff will be attending. This is the final time before July that coaches can have contact with recruits. The source also said that the Huskies would like to bring in another post player and that the Class of 2010 could have as many as six players. It currently stands at four with Samarie Walker, a 6-1 swingman from Dayton, Ohio, Stefanie Dolson, a 6-5 center from Port Jervis, N.Y., Michala Johnson, a 6-3 forward from Lombard, Ill., and Lauren Engeln, a 5-11 guard from Laguna Hills, Calif.
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