Rhyne Howard makes Midseason Team for Naismith Player of the Year
While Kentucky Women’s Basketball might not be experiencing much success on the court this season, it certainly isn’t due to a lack of production from its superstar player.
On Tuesday, Wildcat senior guard Rhyne Howard was tabbed to the Midseason Team for the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy for Women’s Player of the Year. The reigning two-time SEC Player of the Year is one of 30 individuals to make the midseason cut, which she has done for the third consecutive season now.
In late January, Howard was named to the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. She is one of 11 players to make both the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year watch lists.
In what will likely be her final season as a Wildcat, Howard has put together one of the program’s all-time greatest resumes. She recently surpassed the 2,000-point mark for her career and will finish second all-time in points scored behind only the great Valerie Still.
The multi-time All-American is on pace to hear her name called among the top two picks in the upcoming WNBA Draft. Howard is putting up incredible numbers once again for UK, averaging a team-high 20.4 points in addition to her 7.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks per outing while shooting 43.9 percent from the field, 31.2 percent from 3, and 78.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Unfortunately, the rest of her Kentucky teammates aren’t reciprocating her numbers. UK is currently not projected to make the NCAA Tournament as it sits on a record of 9-10 with an ugly 2-7 mark in conference play. Kentucky has dropped seven of its last eight outings.
Howard is playing like an All-American and National Player of the Year frontrunner for the third straight season, but her team’s lack of success could ultimately hurt her chances for awards down the stretch.
2022 Naismith Player of the Year Midseason Team
Aliyah Boston (South Carolina)
Aneesah Morrow (DePaul)
Angel Reese (Maryland)
Ashley Joens (Iowa State)
Ashley Owusu (Maryland)
Ayoka Lee (Kansas State)
Caitlin Clark (Iowa)
Cameron Brink (Stanford)
Cate Reese (Arizona)
Charisma Osborne (UCLA)
Christyn Wiliams (UConn)
Destanni Henderson (South Carolina)
Elissa Cunane (NC State)
Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech)
Emily Engstler (Louisville)
Haley Jones (Stanford)
Jenna Staiti (Georgia)
Jordan Horston (Tennessee)
Khayla Pointer (LSU)
Kierstan Bell (Florida Gulf Coast)
Lorela Cubaj (Georgia Tech)
Mackenzie Holmes (Indiana)
NaLyssa Smith (Baylor)
Naz Hillmon (Michigan)
Nia Clouden (Michigan State)
Olivia Miles (Notre Dame)
Rhyne Howard (Kentucky)
Shakira Austin (Ole Miss)
Shaylee Gonzales (BYU)
Veronica Burton (Northwestern)
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