K-State’s Lee Named to 2024 Wooden Award Women’s National Ballot
Mar 10, 2024 | Women's Basketball
KANSAS CITY, Missouri – For the second time in her career, K-State center Ayoka Lee has been selected for the 2024 Women's National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award presented by Principal. The Women's National Ballot consists of 15 student-athletes who are candidates for the Wooden Award All-American Team and Wooden Award as the most outstanding college basketball player in the United States. Lee is the only player from the Big 12 selected for the National Ballot.
Lee, 2023-24 Second Team All-American by The Athletic, garners the honor from the Wooden Award for the second time, as she was a member of the National Ballot in the 2021-22 season. Earlier this season, Lee was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top-25 Watch List and the Late Season Top-20 Watch List.
All balloted players have been certified by their university to meet or exceed the qualifications for the Wooden Award as set forth by Coach Wooden when the Award was established. The qualifications include: candidates must exhibit strength of character, both on and off the court; candidates must be full-time students in an accredited NCAA college or university; candidates must be making progress toward graduation and have a cumulative 2.00 grade point average since enrolling in their school; candidates must contribute to team effort; candidates must excel in both offense and defense; and candidates should be considered on their performance over the course of the entire season.
Voting will take place from March 19th to March 26th, and voters take into consideration a player's entire season of play, as well as the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The finalists for the 2024 Wooden Award presented by Principal will be announced on April 2nd.
The product of Byron, Minnesota, was a unanimous selection to the 2023-24 All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection. Lee has had a strong 2023-24 as she is averaging 19.9 points on a .621 field goal percentage, 8.4 rebounds and 2.83 blocked shots. She ranks eighth in the nation and leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage. Lee is second in the Big 12 in scoring average, second in the league and seventh in the nation for blocks per game and sixth in the Big 12 for rebounding average.
Lee, a Lisa Leslie Award Top 10 finalist, has recorded 12 games this season with 20 or more points including her second career 20-20 double-double with 24 points, 21 rebounds and five blocked shots against Oral Roberts.
This season, Lee has led the Big 12's top defense with 19 games of two or more blocked shots including a season-high seven at UCF on Jan. 6 and at Iowa State on Feb. 14. The 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year candidate has also collected two or more steals in five games. This season is Lee's third season with 60 or more blocks.
In her career, Lee ranks fourth in school history for points scored with 2,138, the K-State record holder for career rebounds with 1,088, the school record holder for career blocks with 303 and owns the school record for career double-doubles with 58. She is the first player in program history with 300 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals. She is the only active NCAA Division I women's player with 300 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals.
Up next for K-State are the semifinals of the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship. The Wildcats will face Texas on Monday at 4 p.m., in Kansas City at T-Mobile Center.
Monday's game can be seen on ESPN2 and can be heard on the K-State Sports Network including the flagship stations Sunny 102.5 FM and 1350 KMAN, online at kstatesports.com, or on the K-State Sports app.
Lee, 2023-24 Second Team All-American by The Athletic, garners the honor from the Wooden Award for the second time, as she was a member of the National Ballot in the 2021-22 season. Earlier this season, Lee was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top-25 Watch List and the Late Season Top-20 Watch List.
All balloted players have been certified by their university to meet or exceed the qualifications for the Wooden Award as set forth by Coach Wooden when the Award was established. The qualifications include: candidates must exhibit strength of character, both on and off the court; candidates must be full-time students in an accredited NCAA college or university; candidates must be making progress toward graduation and have a cumulative 2.00 grade point average since enrolling in their school; candidates must contribute to team effort; candidates must excel in both offense and defense; and candidates should be considered on their performance over the course of the entire season.
Voting will take place from March 19th to March 26th, and voters take into consideration a player's entire season of play, as well as the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The finalists for the 2024 Wooden Award presented by Principal will be announced on April 2nd.
The product of Byron, Minnesota, was a unanimous selection to the 2023-24 All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection. Lee has had a strong 2023-24 as she is averaging 19.9 points on a .621 field goal percentage, 8.4 rebounds and 2.83 blocked shots. She ranks eighth in the nation and leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage. Lee is second in the Big 12 in scoring average, second in the league and seventh in the nation for blocks per game and sixth in the Big 12 for rebounding average.
Lee, a Lisa Leslie Award Top 10 finalist, has recorded 12 games this season with 20 or more points including her second career 20-20 double-double with 24 points, 21 rebounds and five blocked shots against Oral Roberts.
This season, Lee has led the Big 12's top defense with 19 games of two or more blocked shots including a season-high seven at UCF on Jan. 6 and at Iowa State on Feb. 14. The 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year candidate has also collected two or more steals in five games. This season is Lee's third season with 60 or more blocks.
In her career, Lee ranks fourth in school history for points scored with 2,138, the K-State record holder for career rebounds with 1,088, the school record holder for career blocks with 303 and owns the school record for career double-doubles with 58. She is the first player in program history with 300 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals. She is the only active NCAA Division I women's player with 300 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals.
Up next for K-State are the semifinals of the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship. The Wildcats will face Texas on Monday at 4 p.m., in Kansas City at T-Mobile Center.
Monday's game can be seen on ESPN2 and can be heard on the K-State Sports Network including the flagship stations Sunny 102.5 FM and 1350 KMAN, online at kstatesports.com, or on the K-State Sports app.
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