University of Tennessee Athletics
Jackson Named Cheryl Miller Award Top-Five Finalist
March 01, 2023 | Women's Basketball
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced the five finalists for the 2023 Cheryl Miller Award, and Tennessee senior Rickea Jackson is among those selected.
Named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer, the annual award in its sixth year recognizes the top small forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
The other finalists include Ashley Joens of Iowa State, Haley Jones of Stanford, Gianna Kneepkens of Utah and Madi Williams of Oklahoma.
Jackson advances to the Cheryl Miller Award top five for the first time after being named to the top 10 in 2020-21. She earned All-SEC First Team accolades for the first time in her career on Tuesday.
Leading the Lady Vols (21-10, 13-3 SEC) in scoring (18.9 ppg.) and field goal percentage (55.6), Jackson ranks No. 3 and No. 4 in the SEC in those categories, respectively. In SEC play, she's been even better, putting up 21.4 ppg. and hitting 57.4 percent of her shots to stand second and first, respectively, in those areas.
A native of Detroit, Jackson has recorded three double-doubles this season and 14 games with 20 or more points scored. That production ties her for ninth at Tennessee for most 20+ efforts in a season and a career. She currently is on a six-game streak of 20-point performances, a feat that is topped here only by Chamique Holdsclaw (9, 1997-98), Candace Parker (7, 2006-07) and Bridgette Gordon (7, 1987-88).
She also paces her squad in free throws made (112) and free throws attempted (145), hitting 77.2 percent of her trips to the charity stripe. Additionally, Jackson ranks second in rebounding (6.0 rpg.) and contributes 1.3 assists per contest for this year's team.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in fan voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, March 3, on hoophallawards.com. The fan vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
This month, the finalists will be presented to Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Cheryl Miller Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2023 Cheryl Miller Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center), in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award are Ashley Joens, Iowa State (2021-22), Satou Sabally, Oregon (2020), Bridget Carleton, Iowa State (2019) and Gabby Williams, Connecticut (2018).
For more information on the 2023 Cheryl Miller Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #MillerAward on Twitter and Instagram.
Named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer, the annual award in its sixth year recognizes the top small forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
The other finalists include Ashley Joens of Iowa State, Haley Jones of Stanford, Gianna Kneepkens of Utah and Madi Williams of Oklahoma.
Jackson advances to the Cheryl Miller Award top five for the first time after being named to the top 10 in 2020-21. She earned All-SEC First Team accolades for the first time in her career on Tuesday.
Leading the Lady Vols (21-10, 13-3 SEC) in scoring (18.9 ppg.) and field goal percentage (55.6), Jackson ranks No. 3 and No. 4 in the SEC in those categories, respectively. In SEC play, she's been even better, putting up 21.4 ppg. and hitting 57.4 percent of her shots to stand second and first, respectively, in those areas.
A native of Detroit, Jackson has recorded three double-doubles this season and 14 games with 20 or more points scored. That production ties her for ninth at Tennessee for most 20+ efforts in a season and a career. She currently is on a six-game streak of 20-point performances, a feat that is topped here only by Chamique Holdsclaw (9, 1997-98), Candace Parker (7, 2006-07) and Bridgette Gordon (7, 1987-88).
She also paces her squad in free throws made (112) and free throws attempted (145), hitting 77.2 percent of her trips to the charity stripe. Additionally, Jackson ranks second in rebounding (6.0 rpg.) and contributes 1.3 assists per contest for this year's team.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in fan voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, March 3, on hoophallawards.com. The fan vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
This month, the finalists will be presented to Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Cheryl Miller Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2023 Cheryl Miller Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center), in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award are Ashley Joens, Iowa State (2021-22), Satou Sabally, Oregon (2020), Bridget Carleton, Iowa State (2019) and Gabby Williams, Connecticut (2018).
For more information on the 2023 Cheryl Miller Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #MillerAward on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballWBB | Kim Caldwell Media Availability (11.25.25)
Tuesday, November 25
WBB | Kim Caldwell, Nya Robertson, & Zee Spearman Postgame vs. Coppin State (11.23.25)
Sunday, November 23
WBB | Highlights: Lady Vols 88, Coppin State 35 (11.23.25)
Sunday, November 23
WBB | Janiah Barker, Kim Caldwell, & Deniya Prawl Postgame at MTSU (11.20.25)
Friday, November 21
