Lawrence High School junior Nia Irving, who led the Fairfield school to this year’s Class A state championship, has been named the 2014-15 Gatorade Maine Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
The 6-foot center, who averaged 22.5 points and 14 rebounds per game and shot 52.8 percent from the field while sparking the Bulldogs to a 21-1 record and their first gold ball in 21 years, is the second Gatorade Maine Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Lawrence.
Cindy Blodgett was a three-time winner of the award in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
Irving, the 2014 Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year, scored 27 points and pulled down seven rebounds in Lawrence’s state title-clinching, 50-43 win over Thornton Academy of Saco. She also connected on 77.8 percent of her free throws this winter.
The award also recognizes high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court.
Irving has maintained a 98.3 average in the classroom. A member of the National Honor Society, she has volunteered locally on behalf of a homeless shelter, as a peer tutor and as a youth basketball coach.
“Nia Irving is a gifted basketball player,” said Gavin Kane, head coach at Mt. Blue of Farmington, in a news release. “When you combine her tremendous work ethic with her skill set, you can understand why she is considered by many as the top player in the state. She is physically very strong and a nightmare matchup for other teams.”
Irving joins recent Gatorade Maine Girls Basketball Players of the Year Allie Clement (2013-14 and 2012-13, Catherine McAuley of Portland), Meghan Gribbin (2011-12, Windham), Niki Taylor (2010-11 and 2009-10, York), Morgan Frame (2008-09, Waterville), Rachael Mack (2007-08, Cony of Augusta), and Ashley Cimino (2006–07, McAuley) among the state’s list of former award winners.