Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Rickea Jackson Named to Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List
January 05, 2022 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Mississippi State women's basketball's Rickea Jackson was named to the 2021-22 John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch list, the organization announced Wednesday evening. Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on performances during the 2021-22 season thus far. The list comprises 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor.
Jackson has had an impressive start to the 2021-22 season averaging an SEC best, 20.7 points per game that rank 14th nationally. The junior from Detroit is ranked second on the team in rebounding (7.2 rpg), second in blocked shots (17) and third in steals (12). Jackson recently surpassed the 1,000-career point milestone at Mississippi State in the Bulldogs' win over Jackson State on Dec. 19.
On the year, Jackson has scored in double-figures in all 12 games she has played in. She became the first play since Jordan Danberry to record at least 10-straight double-digit scoring games with her streak. Highlighting her double-digit performances was a 40-point scoring barrage against McNeese State on Dec. 1. Jackson scored 40-points on 10-of-26 shooting to set a career-high in points scored while also becoming the first Bulldog to score at least 40-points in a game since Teaira McCown back in 2017. Her 40-points scored ranks as the 10th most points scored in a game in program history and are the 5th most points scored by any player this season.
While averaging the third-most minutes played in the SEC (34.0), most on the team, Jackson has kept the intensity up on the defensive side as well. She ranks 10th in the SEC in total blocks and 10th in blocks per game (1.4). Her 17 blocked shots this season are already 10-more than she had last year and just three shy of tying her career mark of 20 set during the 2019-20 season.
Jackson was named to the preseason Wooden Award Top 50 watch list, the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List, and garnering Preseason All-SEC First Team honors.
The SEC leads all conferences with seven selections, followed by the Big Ten with five selections, the ACC with four selections, the Big 12 and Pac-12 with three each, the Big East with two selections, and the ASUN with one selection.
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.
State will be back in action on Thursday when they travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs' next home contest will be Sunday, Jan. 9, when they host Vanderbilt. Tip-off against the Commodores is scheduled for 6 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's basketball on Twitter, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWBK".
Jackson has had an impressive start to the 2021-22 season averaging an SEC best, 20.7 points per game that rank 14th nationally. The junior from Detroit is ranked second on the team in rebounding (7.2 rpg), second in blocked shots (17) and third in steals (12). Jackson recently surpassed the 1,000-career point milestone at Mississippi State in the Bulldogs' win over Jackson State on Dec. 19.
On the year, Jackson has scored in double-figures in all 12 games she has played in. She became the first play since Jordan Danberry to record at least 10-straight double-digit scoring games with her streak. Highlighting her double-digit performances was a 40-point scoring barrage against McNeese State on Dec. 1. Jackson scored 40-points on 10-of-26 shooting to set a career-high in points scored while also becoming the first Bulldog to score at least 40-points in a game since Teaira McCown back in 2017. Her 40-points scored ranks as the 10th most points scored in a game in program history and are the 5th most points scored by any player this season.
While averaging the third-most minutes played in the SEC (34.0), most on the team, Jackson has kept the intensity up on the defensive side as well. She ranks 10th in the SEC in total blocks and 10th in blocks per game (1.4). Her 17 blocked shots this season are already 10-more than she had last year and just three shy of tying her career mark of 20 set during the 2019-20 season.
Jackson was named to the preseason Wooden Award Top 50 watch list, the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List, and garnering Preseason All-SEC First Team honors.
The SEC leads all conferences with seven selections, followed by the Big Ten with five selections, the ACC with four selections, the Big 12 and Pac-12 with three each, the Big East with two selections, and the ASUN with one selection.
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.
State will be back in action on Thursday when they travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs' next home contest will be Sunday, Jan. 9, when they host Vanderbilt. Tip-off against the Commodores is scheduled for 6 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's basketball on Twitter, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWBK".
– HailState.com –
Players Mentioned
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