Ataira Franklin Named VaSID State Rookie of the Year

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia freshman guard Ataira Franklin (Bowie, Md.) has been named the 2011 Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID) University Division State Rookie of the Year, the organization announced Wednesday (April 6). Franklin and teammate Ariana Moorer (Woodbridge, Va.), a junior guard, also earned honorable mention all-state accolades.

Franklin wrapped up her freshman season making 27 starts in 35 appearances and averaging 9.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. She was named to the five-player ACC All-Freshmen team and led the league in 3-point field goal percentage (43-for-90, 48 percent).

Franklin posted two double-doubles in 2010-11 and was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Week on Feb. 14.

Moorer was the Cavaliers’ leading scorer, averaging 9.7 points per game and dishing out a team-high 90 assists. She was named the ACC’s 2011 Sixth Player of the Year and tallied Virginia’s highest single-game scoring output of the year, registering 24 points at SEC foe Tennessee.

The all-state first team consisted of James Madison’s Dawn Evans, who was also named the State Player of the Year, Courtney Hurt (VCU), Lauren Jimenez (James Madison), Brittani Shells (Richmond) and Avery Warley (Liberty).

The all-state second team was Andrea Barbour (VCU), Jericka Jenkins (Hampton), Tia Lewis (Old Dominion), Jasmine Parker (Old Dominion) and Quanneisha Perry (Hampton).

Joining Moorer and Franklin as honorable mention nods were Devon Brown (Liberty), Crystal Goring (Richmond) and Taysha Pye (William & Mary).

The Coach of the Year was Hampton’s David Six.

It is the first all-state honor for both Franklin and Moorer. Franklin became the third-ever Cavalier to earn State Rookie of the Year, joining former Cavaliers Brandi Teamer (2002) and Monica Wright (2007).