Candace Parker Named State Farm WBCA All-American

Tampa, Fla. - University of Tennessee junior basketball star Candace Parker was tabbed a 2008 State Farm Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American, announced the WBCA on Saturday. Parker was one of two Southeastern Conference Players on the 10-woman team.

“It is such an honor to be named one of the top 10 players in the country,” said Parker. “There are so many deserving young women in the game today, I am humbled to be among this group and thankful to all of those who helped shape the person and student-athlete that I am today.”

The Naperville, Ill., native leads her team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. She becomes the third Lady Vol in program history to garner Kodak/State Farm All-America accolades at least three times while wearing the orange and white. The others were Chamique Holdsclaw (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999) and Tamika Catchings (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001). The award switched sponsorship in 2008 from Kodak to State Farm.

A 6-4 rangy player, Parker is one of only four Lady Vols all-time to amass 2,000 career points and 900 career rebounds. Earlier this season she broke the school record for most blocked shots in a career and she holds the single-season records for free throws made and attempted, and blocked shots. She was the fastest UT player in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau, doing so in just 56th career game.

Senior Alexis Hornbuckle earned honorable mention All-America accolades from the WBCA.

Tennessee returns to the Final Four for the 18th time in program history. The No. 1 seed Lady Vols will face second-seeded and conference rival Louisiana State at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 6. The game will be aired live on ESPN.

The 2008 State Farm All-America Team:

Sylvia Fowles
Louisiana State
Sr. C 6-6

Crystal Langhorne
Maryland
Sr. C 6-2

Erlana Larkins
North Carolina
Sr. F 6-1

Angel McCoughtry
Louisville
Jr. F 6-1

Renee Montgomery
Connecticut
Jr. G 5-7

Maya Moore
Connecticut
Fr. F 6-0

Courtney Paris
Oklahoma
Jr. C 6-4

Candace Parker
Tennessee
Jr. G/F/C 6-4

Kristi Toliver
Maryland
Jr. G 5-7

*Candice Wiggins
Stanford
Sr. G 5-11