BIRMINGHAM – Former Auburn women's basketball All-America DeWanna Bonner is the 2008 Alabama Amateur Athlete of the Year.
Bonner was honored Sunday night at the Alabama Sports Writers Association's annual awards banquet.
“This is such a big honor and I am very excited about it, there are so many great athletes in Alabama,” said Bonner. “I just have to thank my coaches, my family and my teammates for all the support during my time at Auburn.
Bonner, who began her professional career Saturday with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, became the first Auburn women’s basketball player to receive the honor. She is also the first Auburn athlete to receive the award since Jason Campbell in 2004 and the first female since Alabama’s Andreé Pickens won it in 2002.
“Auburn has had some great women’s basketball players over the years, so I am very honored to be the first chosen,” said Bonner. “Looking down the list of former recipients, there are several great college and professional athletes and it is exciting to see my name listed with them.”
Bonner put together one of the most impressive careers ever at Auburn. The SEC Player of the Year and a National Player of the Year finalist, she broke the Auburn career scoring record during the Ole Miss game at the SEC Tournament. She finished her career with 2,162 points, nearly 100 more than the former school record.
She also finished her career as one of Auburn's top rebounders, taking second all-time with 1,047 rebounds, placing her in an exclusive club of only three Tigers to ever finish their career with more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Listed in the top 10 in every major statistical category at Auburn, she also ranks sixth in blocks, seventh in steals, first in free throws, fourth in field goals and 10th in 3-pointers.
Bonner led the SEC in scoring in scoring this season, becoming the first Auburn player to ever earn the honor. She also ranked 10th in the country in scoring while setting the Auburn single-season scoring record with 716 points, 21.1 per game.
She earnedWBCA/State Farm, USBWA, AP and ESPN.com All-America honors and was selected fifth overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Mercury.
PREVIOUS ASWA AMATEUR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR WINNERS
1974 - Jerry Pate
1975 - Leon Douglas
1976 - Harvey Glance
1977 - Ozzie Newsome
1978 - Reginald King
1979 - Joe Cribbs
1980 - Rowdy Gaines
1981 - Ed Lett
1982 - Randy Campbell
1983 - David Magadan
1984 - Rowdy Gaines
1985 - Bo Jackson
1986 - Cornelius Bennett
1987 - Mike Turk
1988 - Derrick Thomas
1989 - Gary Hollingsworth
1990 - Phillip Doyle
1991 - Tim VanEgmond
1992 - Dee Foster
1993 - Niesa Johnson
1994 - Jay Barker
1995 - Ronald McKinnon
1996 - Meredith Willard
1997 - Tim Hudson
1998 - Tee Martin
1999 - Chris Samuels
2000 - Gabe Gross
2001 - Gabe Gross
2002 - Andreé Pickens
2003 - Philip Rivers
2004 - Jason Campbell
2005 - DeMeco Ryans
2006 - JaMarcus Russell
2007 - Pat White
