Lisa Leslie Wins Dial Award

Morningside High center Lisa Leslie, the State Division I girls basketball Player of the Year as a junior, has been named female winner of the Dial Award as the top scholar-athlete in the nation.

Leslie and boys winner Robert Smith of Euclid, Ohio, were chosen by a panel of coaches, school administrators and sports journalists from across the U.S. who based their votes on athletic, academic and civic achievements.

The 6-foot-5 Leslie, aside from being a standout in basketball, volleyball and track, has been Morningside’s class president each of the last three years and carries a 3.5 grade point average while participating in the high school’s honors program.

Considered one of the nation’s top schoolgirl basketball players, Leslie led the Lady Monarchs (6-0) into Wednesday’s quarterfinals of the Tournament of Champions at Santa Barbara High by contributing 19 points, 13 rebounds and nine blocked shots in a 76-65 win over Nevada Union on Tuesday.

She was a consensus preseason All-American for Morningside, ranked No. 1 in the country. Last season she averaged 27 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots a game while leading the Lady Monarchs to their first state title.

Leslie will receive her award Dec. 20 in Washington, D.C.