Plenty of big names, and breakout candidates, on the Cheryl Miller watch list.
Another day, another preseason award watch list — this time for the 2019 Cheryl Miller Award, which recognizes the best small forward in NCAA women’s basketball.
Players can be added or taken off the list at any point during the 2018-19 season.
This year, players from the Big East, ACC, Big Ten, SEC, Big Sky, MAC, Pac-12, Ohio Valley and Big 12 are all represented, with the ACC having the highest representation. This includes Notre Dame’s Jackie Young, Duke’s Leaonna Odom, Syracuse’s Miranda Drummond, Wake Forest’s Elisa Penna, Georgia Tech’s Francesca Pan and Virginia’s Jocelyn Willoughby.
Last season, Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw said that Young had a chance to be the best player in Notre Dame history. Adding this to a trophy case that already includes a national title, and may well add another this year, would only support her case further.
More from NCAA
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, April 6: Stanford defeats Arizona in a tightly contested matchup to win the national title
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 30: UConn and Baylor deliver a classic battle of storied programs
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 26: Louisville and Texas A&M survive and advance
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 23: Highlights from the first round of the NCAA Tournament
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 16: Tournament bracket released
Others on the list are Mart’e Grays (DePaul), Bridget Carleton (Iowa State), Erika Davenport (Marquette), Kaila Charles (Maryland), Sophie Cunningham (Missouri), Lexi Klabo (North Dakota), Courtney Woods (Northern Illinois), Satou Sabally (Oregon), Katie McWilliams (Oregon State), Rennia Davis (Tennessee), Tia Wooten (Tennessee State), Joyner Holmes (Texas), Borislava Hristova (Washington State) and Naomi Davenport (West Virginia).
Cheryl Miller was known for her finesse and elite athleticism, who once set a single-game record of 105 points in a high school game and was a three-time Naismith Player of the Year. Last year, 5’11, first-round WNBA draft pick, Gabby Williams won the inaugural honor.
The list narrows down to 10 players by mid-February and fans will have a chance to vote for their favorites at hoophallawards.com. The winner will be announced at the 2019 Women’s Final Four.