For a large percentage of the year, many NCAA fanatics would have refused to believe that UConn's Sarah Strong would face any form of competition for the National Player of the Year award. That perception has now shifted. Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes' performances have shifted the gravity of these conversations, and now the exceptional talent is arguably the frontrunner for the prestigious honour.
Given that UConn sits at the summit of the Big East conference with an unbeaten 14-0 record, led by the sensational sophomore Sarah Strong, it is difficult to fathom that there are many other candidates for the National Player of the Year award. Strong is averaging 19.2 points, 8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, while shooting 60.1% from the floor. However, the argument can be presented that the Huskies' dominance would not be so prevalent in the SEC, the division in which Vanderbilt resides.
This point of view can not be aimed in the direction of Mikayla Blakes, as she continues to shine no matter what level of opponent is thrown in her direction.
Blakes' offensive brilliance has proved to be unstoppable
Vanderbilt's leading scorer has established herself as a problem that few teams have managed to solve. Blakes' versatility provides her with the option to switch up her mentality effortlessly and expose a different weakness in the opposition's defensive structure.
The SEC is arguably the strongest conference in the entire NCAA, tasking Blakes and Vanderbilt with a punishing season schedule. This has not stopped the 20-year-old from showcasing her devastating offensive arsenal on a consistent basis.
Over 25 games this season, Blakes has registered 25.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, but has also recorded some of the most enthralling performances of the season. In a 65-61 victory against a talented LSU roster, Blakes scored 32 points in 40 minutes, while also proving her defensive capabilities by stealing the ball on three occasions.
As her season averages suggest, this showing against a ranked opponent is far from an anomaly. In her last two games against Kentucky and Oklahoma, who are ranked 18th and 10th, respectively, in the AP Polls, Blakes has accumulated a sensational 71 points. Inevitably, both of these fixtures ended with a win for the Commodores.
At this point in the season, it is hard to argue that there are more than two contenders for the National Player of the Year award. Both Sarah Strong and Mikayla Blakes are having exceptional seasons that any player would be proud of. However, given the strength of the opponent that the latter is consistently facing, Vanderbilt's talented guard deserves to be presented with this prestigious individual honour as the season concludes.