NEW YORK – Rhyne Howard has joined an unique group to change into a three-time Related Press All-American.
The Kentucky main grew to become the ninth participant in ladies’s basketball historical past to win first-team titles thrice, after she introduced a spot on the crew on Wednesday.
“That is enormous,” Howard mentioned. “An eclectic firm for positive. To be thrice, and one in every of 9, now that is one thing you’ve got needed to work in the direction of. I do not know find out how to clarify it. I used to be glad I used to be in a position to make it occur.”
Becoming a member of Howard on the primary crew are Alia Boston of South Carolina, Kaitlyn Clark of Iowa, Nalissa Smith of Baylor, Naz Helmon of Michigan and Haley Jones of Stanford College. Helmon and Jones tied for fifth.
Boston, Clark and Smith have been unanimous picks from the 30-member Nationwide Media Committee that votes on the AP Prime 25 every week. It was the primary time he scored a tie for the primary crew for the reason that AP started honoring the All-American Girls in 1995.
The final participant to win the title thrice was Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon. Boston may be a part of the membership subsequent yr.
South Carolina gamers Aja Wilson, Baylor Britney Greiner, Shamick Holdslaw of Tennessee, Dukes Alana Hen, Oklahoma Courtney Paris, Brianna Stewart and Maya Moore of Yukon are the one different gamers to have earned the first-team honor a minimum of thrice. Paris and Moore did it 4 occasions.
Howard helped Kentucky get a lap on the finish of the common season and win the SEC Tour. She averaged 20.6 factors this season to go along with 7.3 rebounds and a pair of.4 steals.
“She’s essentially the most versatile participant I’ve ever coached,” mentioned Kentucky coach Kira Elsie. “What units her aside from everybody else is that she will be able to play each place on the bottom and is outstanding offensively and defensively in every one.”
Boston was dominant on each ends of the earth to assist South Carolina go wire-to-wire as they completed first within the AP Ballot and earn the highest seed general within the NCAA Event. The budding job participant averaged 16.8 factors and 12.0 rebounds and set an SEC file for consecutive video games with a double-double.
“Alia is a unbelievable participant, and Jill’s participant has had an distinctive season as a result of she has devoted her low season to place herself on this place,” South Carolina coach Don Staley mentioned. “Her capacity to affect not solely the match but additionally management of it each minute she is on the sphere is one thing particular.”
Clarke has set spectacular numbers for the second yr in a row and has change into the primary ladies’s participant to guide the nation in each scoring and helping. She averaged 27.4 factors, 8.1 rebounds, and seven.9 assists to assist Iowa State win each the common season and the championship sport.
“Her frequent choice to such a prestigious crew reveals her persistence and dedication to development,” mentioned Iowa State coach Lisa Blowder. “Main the nation in factors and assists for 2 years is totally unbelievable.”
Smith earned first-team honors for the second consecutive season. The Baylor striker averaged 22.5 factors and 11.5 rebounds whereas capturing 55% from the sphere. She helped the Bears win their twelfth consecutive common season championship.
“Nalisa is a flexible, elite athlete who excels within the lane however has constantly confronted vaulting this season,” Baylor coach Nikki Cullen mentioned. “She bounced again and defended at a excessive stage and he or she at all times appears to be taking part in her finest within the greatest moments.”
Helmon grew to become the primary Michigan participant to earn a first-team honor, a yr after being on the second-team. It helped Michigan attain its highest ranking ever and averaged 21.0 factors and 9.4 rebounds.
“She’s clearly made such an affect on the courtroom for our program and helped increase the bar for Michigan ladies’s basketball,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes-Ariko mentioned. “Not solely is it what she does on the sphere, however her affect locally and her capacity to proceed to make use of her voice for change is a big a part of her legacy in Michigan.”
Jones, who was the highest participant within the Ultimate 4 final yr when Stanford gained the Nationwide Championship, has averaged 13.1 factors, 7.9 rebounds and three.7 assists this yr.
“Hailey is a well-deserved member of the All-America squad,” Cardinal coach Tara Vanderveer informed The Related Press. “It impacts all facets of the sport and might change the course of a match in ways in which few others can, whereas seeming to offer its finest within the massive moments.”
Howard, Clark, Boston, Smith and the Paige Bakers of UConn fashioned the All-America Preseason Staff. The Bakers missed two months with a knee harm, however earned honors. It was the primary time since 2007 that not one of the UConn gamers have been on the AP All-America crew.
second crew
Ayuka Lee of Kansas State topped the AP’s second crew, which earned 61 factors earlier this season to set a brand new NCAA ladies’s single-game file for targets. She was joined by Ashley Jones of Iowa, Anissa Morrow of DePaul, Khayla Poynter of LSU and Elisa Konan of NC State. It is the third yr Conan has been in Staff Two or Three.
Third crew
The AP’s third crew was Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Keatley, Villanova’s Maddie Siegrist, Northwestern’s Veronica Burton, Stanford’s Cameron Brink and Maryland’s Angel Reese. It is the primary time Virginia Tech, Northwestern and Villanova have featured a participant on an AP All-America crew.
