University of Tennessee Athletics
Spear On Ann Meyers Drysdale Preseason Watchlist
October 29, 2024 | Women's Basketball
The Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, in its eighth year, honors the top shooting guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. It is named after the Class of 1993 Hall of Famer, the first player, regardless of gender, to be chosen for an All-America Team in four consecutive college seasons.
Spear, a 5-foot-10 fifth-year guard from The Colony, Texas, is among 20 players projected to compete for the honor. She is one of seven Southeastern Conference student-athletes making the list.
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One of only two players to start all 33 games a year ago, Spear averaged 13.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest in her initial season with the Lady Vols. She shot 42.9 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from the arc and 84.3 percent from the free-throw line, and she scored in double figures 22 times, including eight contests with 20 or more points.
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Spear led UT during its three games in the SEC Tournament by scoring 18.3 ppg. and shooting 51.5 percent from the field, 55.6 percent on threes and 100 percent (11-11) at the free-throw line. She averaged 14.1 ppg. and 4.9 rpg. in 2023-24 conference play.
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Draining a team-best 69 three-pointers, Spear accumulated a total that ranks No. 10 in a season all-time by a Lady Vol, and her number of made threes and shooting percentage from long range each ranked No. 3 in the SEC a year ago.
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Prior to her arrival on Rocky Top, Spear was a two-time All-ACC and ACC All-Tournament honoree during her three seasons in Winston-Salem. She started 88 of 89 games for the Demon Deacons, including 32 in 2022-23.
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Spear averaged 15.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists over 33.5 minutes per contest during her time in Winston-Salem, tallying 1,385 points and 241 three-pointers while hitting 39.2 percent on field goals, 36.7 percent on threes and 82.7 percent from the free-throw line.
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She ranks No. 10 all-time at Wake Forest for total points, No. 3 for three-point field goals and No. 4 for scoring average. Her totals of 90 and 93 three-pointers as a sophomore and junior, respectively, rank Spear No. 2 and No. 3 in Demon Deacon history.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, November 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Meyers Drysdale and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Ann Meyers Drysdale 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 2025 Meyers Drysdale 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), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).Â
For more information on the 2025 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #MeyersAward on X and Instagram.
