University of Tennessee Athletics
UT’s Jackson Named To Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List
November 06, 2023 | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – The 2023-24 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Preseason Watch List has been released, and Tennessee's Rickea Jackson is one of 50 players to earn that distinction.
Jackson's inclusion on the Naismith list is the most recent preseason recognition for the 6-foot-2 forward from Detroit, Mich. Previously, the Lady Vol fifth-year player was named to the Wade Trophy and Cheryl Miller Award Watch Lists, SEC Coaches and Media All-SEC First Teams and AP All-America Honorable Mention Team.
On Sunday night, Jackson gave a good account of herself in UT's exhibition game vs. the powerful USA Women's National Team. The Big Orange standout led all scorers with 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and added five rebounds, two steals and an assist in 24 minutes of action.
In her first year on Rocky Top in 2022-23, Jackson produced 19.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 28.3 minutes per contest, shooting career bests of 54.8 percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the charity stripe. She wound up No. 3 in scoring, No. 4 in field goal percentage, No. 5 in free throw percentage and No. 15 in rebounding in the SEC. Her points average also ranked fifth all-time by a senior at Tennessee, and it qualified as the No. 5 career scoring average by a Lady Vol as well.
Jackson accumulated 16 games with 20 points or more a year ago, ranking No. 9 at UT for both season and career totals. She logged eight straight contests of 20+ points, surpassing seven-game efforts by Candace Parker (2006-07) and Bridgette Gordon (1987-88). The only Lady Vol with more consecutive 20+ point performances in a row is four-time All-American Chamique Holdsclaw, who strung nine together in 1997-98.
The three-time WBCA All-America Honorable Mention choice and two-time member of the All-SEC and SEC All-Tournament Teams got even better as the season went on, elevating her production to 21.4 ppg. and 6.4 in league play with 12 efforts of 20+ points. She then was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 25.7 ppg. and 7.7 rpg through three contests of that event.
Over the summer, Jackson averaged a team-leading 14.6 ppg. and added 4.9 rpg. on the silver medal-winning USA squad alongside teammate Jewel Spear at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in León, Mexico. Jackson's scoring average was fourth among the 109 players in the tournament, earning her a spot in the AmeriCup All-Star Five, and her 102 points for the week were the second-most in USA AmeriCup history behind Lisa Leslie (129, 7 games, 1993).
Jackson and her No. 11/12 Lady Vols open the regular season Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET at Food City Center vs. Florida A&M. Tickets are available at AllVols.com.
Jackson's inclusion on the Naismith list is the most recent preseason recognition for the 6-foot-2 forward from Detroit, Mich. Previously, the Lady Vol fifth-year player was named to the Wade Trophy and Cheryl Miller Award Watch Lists, SEC Coaches and Media All-SEC First Teams and AP All-America Honorable Mention Team.
On Sunday night, Jackson gave a good account of herself in UT's exhibition game vs. the powerful USA Women's National Team. The Big Orange standout led all scorers with 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and added five rebounds, two steals and an assist in 24 minutes of action.
In her first year on Rocky Top in 2022-23, Jackson produced 19.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 28.3 minutes per contest, shooting career bests of 54.8 percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the charity stripe. She wound up No. 3 in scoring, No. 4 in field goal percentage, No. 5 in free throw percentage and No. 15 in rebounding in the SEC. Her points average also ranked fifth all-time by a senior at Tennessee, and it qualified as the No. 5 career scoring average by a Lady Vol as well.
Jackson accumulated 16 games with 20 points or more a year ago, ranking No. 9 at UT for both season and career totals. She logged eight straight contests of 20+ points, surpassing seven-game efforts by Candace Parker (2006-07) and Bridgette Gordon (1987-88). The only Lady Vol with more consecutive 20+ point performances in a row is four-time All-American Chamique Holdsclaw, who strung nine together in 1997-98.
The three-time WBCA All-America Honorable Mention choice and two-time member of the All-SEC and SEC All-Tournament Teams got even better as the season went on, elevating her production to 21.4 ppg. and 6.4 in league play with 12 efforts of 20+ points. She then was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 25.7 ppg. and 7.7 rpg through three contests of that event.
Over the summer, Jackson averaged a team-leading 14.6 ppg. and added 4.9 rpg. on the silver medal-winning USA squad alongside teammate Jewel Spear at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in León, Mexico. Jackson's scoring average was fourth among the 109 players in the tournament, earning her a spot in the AmeriCup All-Star Five, and her 102 points for the week were the second-most in USA AmeriCup history behind Lisa Leslie (129, 7 games, 1993).
Jackson and her No. 11/12 Lady Vols open the regular season Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET at Food City Center vs. Florida A&M. Tickets are available at AllVols.com.
Players Mentioned
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