K-State’s Lee Named to Pair of Watch Lists
Nov 17, 2020 | Women's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kansas – Kansas State sophomore center Ayoka Lee continues to be recognized in advance of the 2020-21 season, as she was named to the 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Watch List and the 2021 Wade Trophy Watch List on Tuesday.
Lee, a 2021 All-America candidate, enters her sophomore season as the number two returning rebounder and shot blocker in the Big 12. She needs just nine blocked shots to become the eighth player in program history to reach 100 career blocks. In October, Lee was a unanimous selection to the 2020-21 Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
As the 2020 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a 2020 All-Big 12 First Team selection, Lee ranked ninth among freshmen in the nation and led all Big 12 freshmen in scoring with 15.7 points per game in 2019-20. She ranked second in the nation among freshmen and led the league's freshmen in rebounding at 11.4 per game. She also led all freshmen in the nation in blocks at 3.1 per game.
Lee, who was named the number two freshman in the nation during the 2019-20 season according to ESPN.com, ranked among the top-12 in the Big 12 in nine statistical categories and was tied for the league lead in double-doubles with 19. She was second in the league for all classes and fourth in the nation among freshmen in field goal percentage at .568
Lee was the first freshman in program history to complete a conference season with a double-double as she averaged 15.8 points and 11.7 rebounds.
She was the first freshman in program history with the combination of 400 or more points, 300 or more rebounds and 90 or more blocks. Lee established 13 Big 12 or K-State single-season school records including: rebounds by a freshman (331), blocks by a freshman (91) and double-doubles for all-classes (19).
The midseason Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy 30-member team will be announced in early February; players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. Then, the competition will be narrowed to 10 national semifinalists on March 2, 2021, and four finalists will be named on March 19, 2021. The winner of the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on April 3, 2021.
The Wade Trophy — now in its 44th year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women's basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
The "Wade Watch" list of candidates for the Wade Trophy is composed of players selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America Selection Committee. The committee will review the list midseasonto determine if additional players will be added based on their play during the first half of the 2020-21 season.
K-State was selected for a fourth-place finish in the 2020-21 Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll. The Wildcats will be led into the season by unanimous Preseason All-Big 12 selection and 2021 All-America candidate Ayoka Lee and Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection Rachel Ranke.
Kansas State returns nine letter winners for the 2020-21 season. K-State also welcomes in graduate transfer Sydney Goodson, junior Makayla Pippin, redshirt freshman Jada Thorpe from injury and freshmen Taylor Lauterbach and Jada Moore.
The Wildcats will open its 2020-21 season with an exhibition game on Wednesday, November 25, at Fort Hays State. K-State will then begin a seven-game home stand in non-conference action on Sunday, November 29, against Southern at 1 p.m.
Lee, a 2021 All-America candidate, enters her sophomore season as the number two returning rebounder and shot blocker in the Big 12. She needs just nine blocked shots to become the eighth player in program history to reach 100 career blocks. In October, Lee was a unanimous selection to the 2020-21 Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
As the 2020 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a 2020 All-Big 12 First Team selection, Lee ranked ninth among freshmen in the nation and led all Big 12 freshmen in scoring with 15.7 points per game in 2019-20. She ranked second in the nation among freshmen and led the league's freshmen in rebounding at 11.4 per game. She also led all freshmen in the nation in blocks at 3.1 per game.
Lee, who was named the number two freshman in the nation during the 2019-20 season according to ESPN.com, ranked among the top-12 in the Big 12 in nine statistical categories and was tied for the league lead in double-doubles with 19. She was second in the league for all classes and fourth in the nation among freshmen in field goal percentage at .568
Lee was the first freshman in program history to complete a conference season with a double-double as she averaged 15.8 points and 11.7 rebounds.
She was the first freshman in program history with the combination of 400 or more points, 300 or more rebounds and 90 or more blocks. Lee established 13 Big 12 or K-State single-season school records including: rebounds by a freshman (331), blocks by a freshman (91) and double-doubles for all-classes (19).
The midseason Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy 30-member team will be announced in early February; players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. Then, the competition will be narrowed to 10 national semifinalists on March 2, 2021, and four finalists will be named on March 19, 2021. The winner of the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on April 3, 2021.
The Wade Trophy — now in its 44th year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women's basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
The "Wade Watch" list of candidates for the Wade Trophy is composed of players selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America Selection Committee. The committee will review the list midseasonto determine if additional players will be added based on their play during the first half of the 2020-21 season.
K-State was selected for a fourth-place finish in the 2020-21 Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll. The Wildcats will be led into the season by unanimous Preseason All-Big 12 selection and 2021 All-America candidate Ayoka Lee and Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection Rachel Ranke.
Kansas State returns nine letter winners for the 2020-21 season. K-State also welcomes in graduate transfer Sydney Goodson, junior Makayla Pippin, redshirt freshman Jada Thorpe from injury and freshmen Taylor Lauterbach and Jada Moore.
The Wildcats will open its 2020-21 season with an exhibition game on Wednesday, November 25, at Fort Hays State. K-State will then begin a seven-game home stand in non-conference action on Sunday, November 29, against Southern at 1 p.m.
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