By Kyle Parmley
MIAMI – Former Clay-Chalkville basketball standout Kristian Hudson is wasting no time making waves in her new home.
College Sports Madness named the Florida International University freshman Preseason Conference USA Freshman of the Year last week.
Former Clay-Chalkville guard Kristian Hudson
file photo by Ron Burkett
“Kristian is a really talented player, but I think the thing that will set her apart from other freshman is her basketball IQ,” said Justin Haynie, Hudson’s high school head coach. “She is incredibly smart and that will pay dividends as she transitions to the college game.”
Hudson left Clay-Chalkville as the program’s all-time leading scorer with over 2,000 career points, was first-team Class 6A All-State, a Birmingham Tip Off Club Player of the Week, Birmingham Kiwanis Club Player of the Year, and Area 6 Tournament Most Valuable Player.
FIU is coming off a 3-26 season and is looking for incomers like Hudson to lead a turnaround under new head coach Marlin Chinn.
College Sports Madness is a website dedicated to covering college athletics in basketball, football, and a variety of other sports.
Listed below is the entirety of the College Sports Madness preseason accolades.
2015-16 College Sports Madness Preseason Conference USA Awards
Player of the Year: Olivia Jones, Middle Tennessee
Freshman of the Year: Kristian Hudson, FIU
Coach of the Year: Michelle Clark-Heard, WKU
