MANHATTAN – Kansas State junior center Ayoka Lee has continued to garner accolades for her efforts on the floor this season, as the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s Midseason Top 25 Watch List with Lee as one of the 25 to receive the distinction this evening.
Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2021-22 season thus far, the list comprised of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sports most prestigious honor.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2022 John R. Wooden Award Women’s Player of the Year presented by Wendy’s. Players not chosen to the preseason or midseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ National Ballot.
The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2022 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy’s following the NCAA Tournament in April.
For the season, Lee paces the nation in total points scored (317) and field goals made (129). She ranks among the top-five nationally in points per game, blocked shots, blocks per game and double-doubles.
The product of Byron, Minnesota, leads the Big 12 in scoring (24.4 ppg), field goal percentage (.578), 30-point games (5), blocks (50) and blocks per game (3.9).
K-State will play three of its next four games away from Bramlage, as the Wildcats start a two-game road trip at Oklahoma State tonight at 6:30 p.m. Tonight’s game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and also can be heard on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.
Wooden Award Presented by Wendy’s 2021-22 Midseason Top 25
Shakira Austin, Ole Miss
Kierstan Bell, Florida Gulf Coast
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Cameron Brink, Stanford
Paige Bueckers, Connecticut
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Zia Cooke, South Carolina
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech
Elissa Cunane, NC State
Destanni Henderson, South Carolina
Naz Hillmon, Michigan
Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Rickea Jackson, Mississippi State
Ashley Joens, Iowa State
Haley Jones, Stanford
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
Aneesah Morrow, DePaul
Charisma Osborne, UCLA
Ashley Owusu, Maryland
Angel Reese, Maryland
NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
Jenna Staiti, Georgia
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame
– kstatesports.com –