March 4, 2008
In conjunction with the upcoming Women’s Final Four college basketball in Tampa, FL, the Tampa Tribune has identified the all-time best girls basketball players at 101 high schools in the Tampa Bay area. That list was narrowed to 35 finalists, voted upon by an advisory panel of coaches for a Final Five. One of the five finalists is former Hawkeye and Lakewood, FL native, Necole Tunsil.
Tunsil currently ranks 10th in Iowa career scoring (1,283), 12th in assists (279) and 13th in rebounding (564). She lettered four years for Coach Vivian Stringer. During her four years, Iowa won two Big Ten championships and advanced to the 1993 Final Four. Tunsil was a 1994 US Basketball Writers and Kodak District All-American her senior year. She was recognized on the all-Big Ten first team as a senior and was honorable mention her sophomore and junior campaigns. Her 41.1% three-point field goal percentage in 1993-94 currently ranks ninth-best for a single-season at Iowa.
In high school she was the second-ever Florida female to be named to Parade’s all-America team. She averaged 25.8 points, 13.9 rebounds and 9.7 assists per game her senior season at Lakewood High School. Tunsil led the Spartans to a 30-1 record and their first Class 3A state championship. She was a first team all-state selection, a three-time prep high jump champion and also won a state title in the shot put. Tunsil also was an all-state honoree in volleyball and led her volleyball team to a district championship.
Fans are voting on the Final Five (to come up with a No. 1) through March 16. Hawkeye fans are encouranged to vote for Tunsil at the below link:
http://www2.tbo.com/static/special-reports-sports/tbo-sports-special-report-tampa-bays-best/
Click HERE for the Big Ten Network home page.