LOS ANGELES (AP) Karl Towns Jr., a 7-footer headed to Kentucky to play basketball, and Brianna Turner, a Notre Dame recruit, have been honored as national prep athletes of the year.
Towns led his St. Joseph High School team to three straight state titles before graduating a year early this spring. The forward from Metuchen, New Jersey, averaged 20.9 points, 13.4 rebounds and 6.2 blocked shots last season. He earned a 3.50 grade point average and has played for the Dominican senior national team since he was 16.
Turner led Manvel (Texas) High to consecutive state titles, averaging 20.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in just 23 minutes a game last season. The guard-forward started all 154 possible games during her prep career.
The awards presented Tuesday night are sponsored by Gatorade.
