Boston Named The Athletic National Player of the Year
COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the second time in as many seasons, South Carolina junior forward Aliyah Boston has been named National Player of the Year by “The Athletic.” The 2022 SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year is on the most recent watch lists of national versions of both awards as well.
Boston continues to dominate this season with 24 consecutive double-doubles, the longest active streak in the nation and the longest streak in SEC history. Her 16.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game all lead the team with her rebounding and blocks average ranking seventh and 10th in the nation, respectively. Her 25 double-doubles are second in the NCAA and she is 28th in field goal percentage. In 11 games against ranked opponents, all of Boston’s averages go up – 17.5 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.2 blocks.
In advanced metrics that measure a player’s impact on both ends of the court, Boston is the nation’s clear leader in win shares (13.9) and in player efficiency rating (45.0). Her influence on the game is so dominant that in terms of win shares, the difference between her 13.9 and second place (11.4) is the more than the difference between second place and the 20th-ranked player.
No. 1/1 South Carolina claimed its sixth SEC Regular-Season Championship and now awaits its place in the NCAA Tournament bracket, which will be released on Sun., March. 13.
Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on the women’s basketball season.
2022 The Athletic All-America Teams
Boston continues to dominate this season with 24 consecutive double-doubles, the longest active streak in the nation and the longest streak in SEC history. Her 16.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game all lead the team with her rebounding and blocks average ranking seventh and 10th in the nation, respectively. Her 25 double-doubles are second in the NCAA and she is 28th in field goal percentage. In 11 games against ranked opponents, all of Boston’s averages go up – 17.5 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.2 blocks.
In advanced metrics that measure a player’s impact on both ends of the court, Boston is the nation’s clear leader in win shares (13.9) and in player efficiency rating (45.0). Her influence on the game is so dominant that in terms of win shares, the difference between her 13.9 and second place (11.4) is the more than the difference between second place and the 20th-ranked player.
No. 1/1 South Carolina claimed its sixth SEC Regular-Season Championship and now awaits its place in the NCAA Tournament bracket, which will be released on Sun., March. 13.
Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on the women’s basketball season.
2022 The Athletic All-America Teams
Player of the Year – Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
First Team
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
Naz Hillmon, Michigan
Haley Jones, Stanford
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
Second Team
Aneesah Morrow, DePaul
Elizabeth Kitley, Vieginia Tech
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Veronica Buron, Northwestern
Shaylee Gonzales, BYU
