ATLANTA, Ga. - Connecticut junior Maya Moore seeks to become the first player ever to win two Naismith trophies in high school and college as the forward headlines the 2009-10 preseason watch list presented by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Moore won the Naismith National High School Girl's Player of the Year award in both 2006 and 2007 at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga., and claimed the college award this past March. She is joined on the list by teammates senior center Tina Charles and sophomore guard Tiffany Hayes. Notre Dame also had a pair of players on the list in senior guard Ashley Barlow and freshman guard Skylar Diggins. DePaul senior guard Deirdre Naughton, Marquette junior guard Angel Robinson and St. John's sophomore forward Da'Shena Stevens round out the BIG EAST contingent.

The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2009-10 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T will be awarded at the 2010 NCAA Women's Final Four in San Antonio, Tx. 

"The competition this year seems to be at an all-time high, and there are numerous candidates who have the opportunity to showcase their abilities throughout the season," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president.  "Once the games start it will become clearer who emerges as the leading candidate to claim the Naismith Trophy, the most prestigious award in college basketball."

Since 2005, presenting sponsor AT&T has set the standard in allowing fans to participate in determining the trophy winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25% of the final results - more than any other national college basketball award.

In late February, the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors will compile a mid-season team of the top 30 players in the nation.  Then in March, the Naismith Trophy voting academy will vote to narrow the list to the four finalists. 

Others to accomplish the dual-level feat of winning both a high school and college Naismith Trophy include Connecticut's Diana Taurasi (2000 in high school; and both 2003 and 2004 in college), Tennessee's Tamika Catchings (1997, 1998; 2000), Candace Parker (2003 and 2004; 2008) and Chamique Holdsclaw (1995; 1998 and 1999) and USC's Lisa Leslie (1990; 1994). 

The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to college basketball's player of the year.  For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.

2009-10 Naismith Trophy Preseason watch list: