MANHATTAN, Kansas (K-State Sports) – Kansas State senior 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 Principal Midseason Top 25 Watch List with Lee as one of the 25 to receivLee is a three-time candidate for the John R. Wooden Award, as she was a preseason watch list selection in 2021, 2022 and 2024. She was named to the Midseason Top-25 in 2022 and 2024.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2024 John R. Wooden Award Women’s Player of the Year presented by Principal. 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 2024 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Principal following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Lee, a three-time Big 12 Player of the Week recipient, has had a strong start to the 2023-24 season, as she is averaging 19.8 points on a career-best .679 field goal percentage, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots. She ranks third in the nation and leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage. Lee is third in the Big 12 in scoring average and blocks per game.
The product of Byron, Minnesota, has recorded eight games this season with 20 or more points including her second career 20-20 double-double with 24 points, 21 rebounds and five blocked shots against Oral Roberts.
In her career, Lee ranks fourth in school history for points scored with 1,977, second for rebounds with 1,018, second for blocks with 275 and owns the school record for career double-doubles with 54.
Lee is also a candidate for the Women’s Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy and the Lisa Leslie Award, given to the nation’s top center.
Wooden Award Presented by Wendy’s 2023-23 Midseason Top 25
Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Cameron Brink, Stanford
Paige Bueckers, UConn
Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Aaliyah Edwards, UConn
Rori Harmon, Texas
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
Cotie McMahon, Ohio State
Aneesah Morrow, LSU
Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
Alissa Pili, Utah
Sedona Prince, TCU
Angel Reese, LSU
Kiki Rice, UCLA
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State
Jaylyn Sherrod, Colorado
JuJu Watkins, USC
Mikaylah Williams, LSU
e the distinction this evening.
