Connect with us

Women's Basketball

ESPN Ranks Rhyne Howard Top Player of the Year Candidate for 2020-21

Rhyne Howard
UK Athletics

Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard has already accomplished a lot during her time at Kentucky but could she be the best player in women’s college basketball next season?

Howard, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, will be the leading returning scorer in women’s college basketball after averaging 23.4 points per game as a sophomore.

Graham Hays of ESPN ranked the 10 best women’s college basketball players for the 2020-21 season and Howard is at the top of the list. He wrote the following in his story for ESPN.

 

1. Rhyne Howard, Kentucky 

Why she could win: She will be the nation’s leading returning scorer after averaging 23.4 points per game this season. That’s a good start. Howard does so much well. Kentucky’s pressure allows her to influence games on the defensive end. She rebounds well from the perimeter and is remarkably sure-handed. But it’s her ability to score that makes her a potentially generational talent. A 6-foot-2 guard who can get her own shot at any time and is highly proficient from the 3-point and free throw lines, she’s almost impossible to defend on the college level.

What could get in her way: Whether it’s the Wade, Wooden or even our own espnW award, players of the year historically come from teams near the top of the polls. Kentucky has its work cut out in replacing four seniors who played substantial minutes — while also improving on a showing that likely wouldn’t have earned it hosting privileges in this NCAA tournament. Is Howard so special that she can lift the Wildcats into the national championship discussion?

Matthew Mitchell and the Kentucky women’s basketball program are taking strides towards making a run at the schools first Final Four. The biggest reason being a collection of talent unlike anything the program has seen at one time.

Last week, Kentucky announced the addition of two transfer players from SEC programs. Former five-stars Jazmine Massengill (Tennessee) and Robyn Benton (Auburn) signed with Kentucky last week and could be immediately eligible for the 2020-21 season if the NCAA passes the one-time transfer rule later this spring.

Kentucky will return a large portion of their production from a team that finished 22-8 in a season cut due to COVID-19. Chasity Patterson, who averaged 11.5 points in 19 games last season, will return to help lead the backcourt. Blair Green will also return after averaging 5.8 points per game. KeKe McKinney (6.5 points and 4.7 rebounds) and Tatyana Wyatt (5.5 points and 3.7 rebounds) will anchor the paint. Sharpshooter Emma King also returns as a sophomore after playing in 15 games last year.

In addition to the experience Kentucky returns, the Wildcats will also welcome several players who sat out last season due to injury or transfer rules. Guard Kameron Roach missed last season with a torn Achilles and Deasia Merrill sat out after sustaining a season ending knee injury. Kentucky will also add the 2019 Pac-12 Freshman of they year in Dre’una Edwards, who sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Edwards transferred to Kentucky last May after her freshman season at Utah.

If that isn’t enough, the Wildcats signed a top 20 recruiting class in the nation according to ESPN.com. Treasure Hunt, a 2020 McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic selection, headlines the class that also features McDonald’s All-American nominees Erin Toller and Niya Leveretter.

[ESPN]

 

 

More in Women's Basketball