Louisville’s Peyton Siva Wins 2013 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award

From our friends at the Basketball Hall of Fame:

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the winner of the 2013 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award. This award is given annually to one senior, six-foot-and under, who thrived in the classroom and on the basketball court.

This year’s winner is Peyton Siva from the University of Louisville. The senior point guard was named the 2013 Big East Tournament MVP, 2013 All Big East third team, 2013 Big East Academic All-American and 2013 Big East Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He holds the Big East tournament and school record for steals in a Big East tournament game with seven, which also made him Louisville’s all-time career leader with 236 steals. Siva finished the 2013 regular season averaging 9.7 points, 5.8 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game. As a junior, he finished fourth in the Big East in assists (5.6 per game), seventh in steals (1.7 per game), and 13th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.61).

“Peyton Sivia is one of the elite players in college basketball,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “He excelled not only on the court but also in the classroom and it is an honor to recognize Peyton for all of his outstanding efforts this year. He is very deserving of this prestigious award.”

The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is named in honor of James Naismith’s daughter-in-law. A panel of representatives from the National Association of Basketball Coaches selects the recipient. To earn the award, the recipient must demonstrate leadership, character, loyalty, all-around basketball ability and excellence in the classroom. In March, Penn State University Lady Lions guard Alex Bentley won the 2013 Frances Pomeroy award. She was formally recognized during the third annual WBCA Awards Show, which will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, April 8, in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s New Orleans Theater.  This event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Final Four in New Orleans.