Sophie Cunningham Named Kiwanis Club Don Faurot Sportsperson of the Year
6/9/2015 4:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou women's basketball incoming freshman Sophie Cunningham was named a co-recipient of the Kiwanis Club of Columbia Don Faurot Sportsperson of the Year award on Tuesday. The honor – named after Mizzou's legendary former football head coach and director of athletics – was established in 1991 to honor an outstanding candidate who contributes to the local sports community as an athlete, coach, administrator or official.
Cunningham shared the accolade with Jill Nagel, her coach at Rock Bridge High School, and dedicated it to her older sister and Mizzou teammate, Lindsey.
"We are extremely proud of Sophie for what she has meant to her high school and the city of Columbia," Mizzou head coach Robin Pingeton said. "She joins some elite company in this community and with Mizzou Athletics by receiving this honor. To say that we are excited to have her in our program is an understatement. She is the first McDonald's All-American in program history and brings great skill, toughness and personality to our team."
A 6-1 guard, Cunningham joins the likes of former Mizzou administrators, coaches and players Mike Alden (2009), Ken Ash (2011), Gary Filbert (1996), Corby Jones (1999), John Kadlec (2010), Susan Kreklow (1998), Gene McArtor (2014), Dr. Rick McGuire (2008), Brad Smith (2006), Doug Smith (1991), Cindy Stein (2001), Norm Stewart (1994), Fred Wappel (1995) and Hap Whitney (1993) as recipients of the prestigious honor.
Cunningham became the first McDonald's All-American signee in program history and also participated in the 2015 Jordan Brand Classic in New York. She was ranked as high as the No. 14 prospect in the country by Blue Star Report and the No. 20 player nationally by ESPN HoopGurlz after leading the Bruins to four consecutive Class 5 state championships.
In May, Cunningham was invited to the USA Basketball Women's U19 World Championships Team Trials roster as one of the nation's top 34 athletes. She was also invited to the 2014 USA Basketball U18 National Team Trials and played at the 2013 USA Basketball 3x3 National Tournament.
Cunningham was named the Class 5 Player of the Year as a junior and senior, the 2015 Co-Miss Show-Me Basketball and Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year in 2014-15. She was a 2013-14 MaxPreps fourth-team All-American and was a four-time all-state, all-region, all-district and all-conference honoree. She was named Columbia Daily Tribune Player of the Year three times and set a school record with 1,983 career points. Her No. 3 jersey was retired by Rock Bridge following her senior season in which she averaged 21.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.9 steals per game. As a junior, she scored 18.5 points to go along with 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals per contest.
A multi-sport athlete, Cunningham was a three-time all-district selection in volleyball, participated in track and field and played kicker for the football team for the latter part of her senior season, becoming the first female to score a point on the gridiron in school history.
Outside of athletic competition, Cunningham earned a spot on the honor roll and volunteered for the Central Missouri Food Bank and multiple other community service projects. She was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Future Farmers of America (FFA) and student council.
