Rhyne Howard gets yet another Preseason honor

Another day, another accolade for Rhyne Howard. The Kentucky Women’s Basketball star was just voted Preseason SEC Player of the Year by the league’s media. Earlier this week, SEC coaches gave her the same honor. The media picked Kentucky to finish third in the SEC behind South Carolina and Mississippi State:

SEC Preseason Media Poll

Order of Finish
1. South Carolina
2. Mississippi State
3. Kentucky  
4. Texas A&M
5. Arkansas
6. Tennessee
7.  LSU
8. Georgia
9. Alabama
10. Florida
11. Missouri
12. Vanderbilt
13. Auburn
14. Ole Miss

Player of the Year
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky

Preseason All-SEC
Unique Thompson, Auburn
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Rickea Jackson, Mississippi State
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
N’dea Jones, Texas A&M

Here’s a running list of Howard’s preseason honors if you’re keeping track at home:

• Preseason SEC Player of the Year (Coaches and media)
• 2021 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List
• 2021 WBCA Wade Trophy Watch List
• 2021 Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watch List
• Unanimous First-Team Preseason All-American by the Associated Press
• Preseason All-American by Lindy’s Sports

As a sophomore last season, Howard averaged 23.4 points and became the first player in school history to score 25 or more points in five straight games. She also led UK with 6.5 rebounds per game and 62 steals, while finishing second on the team with 29 blocks and third on the team with 68 assists. Howard hit 84 3-pointers last year, which was the most in program history in a single season. She was named the 2020 SEC Player of the Year, earned first-team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team honors, and was one of four finalists for the Citizen Naismith Trophy, recognizing the most outstanding women’s college basketball player of the year.

Tonight, you’ll get to see her in action at Big Blue Madness, which starts at 9 p.m. on SEC Network.