WBB’s Blackwell Named to Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watch List

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Baylor women's basketball's Aijha Blackwell has been placed on the 2024 Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Wednesday.

The recognition marks the second-straight year that Blackwell has been one of 20 candidates to earn the preseason honor.

Named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer, the annual award in its seventh year recognizes the top small forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

Blackwell saw limited action last year due to injury, making eight appearances in her first season with the Bears. A transfer from Missouri, Blackwell spent three seasons with the Tigers and was a three-time all-SEC performer. She led the Tigers during the 2021-22 campaign with 14.9 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, which was the highest single-season rebounding average in Missouri program history.

In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2024 Cheryl Miller Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where a winner will be selected.

Beginning Oct. 20, fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, in each of the three rounds.

2024 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award Candidates*
Aijha Blackwell                     Baylor
Morgan Maly                           Creighton
Yarden Garzon                       Indiana
Kiki Jefferson                          Louisville
Aneesah Morrow                    LSU
Jordan King                            Marquette
Jakia Brown-Turner                Maryland
Mara Braun                             Minnesota
Alyssa Ustby                           North Carolina
Cotie McMahon                      Ohio State
Skylar Vann                            Oklahoma
Lior Garzon                             Oklahoma State
Kennedy Todd-Williams         Ole Miss
Madison Scott                         Ole Miss
Grace VanSlooten                  Oregon
McKenzie Forbes                    USC
Rickea Jackson                      Tennessee
Jordyn Merritt                          Texas Tech
Caroline Ducharme                UConn
Azzi Fudd                                UConn

*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point during the 2023-24 season

To stay up-to-date on all things Baylor women's basketball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorWBB.

- BaylorBears.com -

WBB’s Blackwell Named to Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watch List

Players Mentioned

Aijha Blackwell

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