DePaul University Athletics
Aneesah Morrow Among Five National Finalists for Katrina McClain Award
3/10/2022 1:16:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
DePaul All-American strong contender for Power Forward of the Year
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Just 24 hours after being named to a pair of All-American teams, Aneesah Morrow received yet another accolade on Thursday.
The Sports Illustrated and The Athletic All-American Second Team choice who was also The Athletic's Freshman of the Year has made it to the final five of the Naismith 2022 Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced the five finalists for the award honoring the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year. The annual award in its fifth year recognizes the premier power forwards in NCAA Division I women's college basketball.
The final five features NaLyssa Smith (Baylor), Cameron Brink (Stanford), Angel Reese (Maryland), Naz Hillmon (Michigan) and Morrow.
"This year's list of final candidates is a very talented group of student-athletes that have helped lead their teams to success throughout this season," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Katrina McClain showcased this ability and beyond as a collegiate player. The young women on this list embody many of her characteristics that made her great."
Morrow leads the nation in double-doubles, rebounds, rebounds per game and offensive rebounds per game. She is second in the country in points and field goals heading up the NCAA's No. 1 offense averaging 88.3 points a game.
The 6-foot, 1-inch power forward is a national finalist for three more of the most prestigious awards in women's college basketball---the John Wooden Player of the Year, the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
The unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection and unanimous BIG EAST Freshman of the Year broke 11 conference records including most rebounds in a game (27 at Seton Hall) and most rebounds in a season (BIG EAST games). Her 41 points at Creighton set a new freshman standard.
The former Simeon All-Stater became the first player ever to win five U.S. Basketball Writers Assn. (USBWA) National Freshman of Week awards. The previous standard of four was held by the country's top two sophomores---Connecticut's Paige Bueckers and Iowa's All-American Caitlin Clark who leads the nation in scoring.
She was also the first to win 13 BIG EAST Freshman of the Week awards.
Morrow's streak of 23 consecutive double-doubles that was snapped at last week's BIG EAST tournament leaves her in very exclusive company as only three other players in NCAA history have 20-straight or more in one season.
She was not a highly touted recruit coming out of Simeon and proceeded to stun coaches nationwide with her 31-point, nine-rebound NCAA debut against Texas Southern. Morrow said that being overlooked and watching Top 25 schools lose interest while she battled through a series of injuries has her playing with a considerable chip on her broad shoulder.
The Blue Demon rookie has made sure to become a commanding presence on the court and in the classroom. She currently carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, competing academically with the same ferocity she displays in shorts and gym shoes.
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 student-athletes in November, which was narrowed to 10 candidates in February and now down to five.
This month, the finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.
The winner will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame's selection committee. Naismith Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will go live on Friday, March 11 on hoophallawards.com.
"It is an honor and a privilege to work alongside the Basketball Hall of Fame to recognize rising stars in the game," said Katrina McClain-Pittman, Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2012. "These student-athletes have all proven to be incredible athletes and leaders and it will be no easy task so select our winner."
The winner will be presented on a date to be determined along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five.
Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award in which DePaul's Sonya Morris is among the final five, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
Additional information about the award presentation including date and time will be released in the coming weeks.
Previous winners of the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award include NaLyssa Smith, Baylor (2021), Ruthy Hebard, Oregon (2018, 2020) and Napheesa Collier, Connecticut (2019).
For more information on the 2022 Katrina McClain Award and the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #McClainAward on Twitter and Instagram.
The Sports Illustrated and The Athletic All-American Second Team choice who was also The Athletic's Freshman of the Year has made it to the final five of the Naismith 2022 Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced the five finalists for the award honoring the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year. The annual award in its fifth year recognizes the premier power forwards in NCAA Division I women's college basketball.
The final five features NaLyssa Smith (Baylor), Cameron Brink (Stanford), Angel Reese (Maryland), Naz Hillmon (Michigan) and Morrow.
"This year's list of final candidates is a very talented group of student-athletes that have helped lead their teams to success throughout this season," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Katrina McClain showcased this ability and beyond as a collegiate player. The young women on this list embody many of her characteristics that made her great."
Morrow leads the nation in double-doubles, rebounds, rebounds per game and offensive rebounds per game. She is second in the country in points and field goals heading up the NCAA's No. 1 offense averaging 88.3 points a game.
The 6-foot, 1-inch power forward is a national finalist for three more of the most prestigious awards in women's college basketball---the John Wooden Player of the Year, the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
The unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection and unanimous BIG EAST Freshman of the Year broke 11 conference records including most rebounds in a game (27 at Seton Hall) and most rebounds in a season (BIG EAST games). Her 41 points at Creighton set a new freshman standard.
The former Simeon All-Stater became the first player ever to win five U.S. Basketball Writers Assn. (USBWA) National Freshman of Week awards. The previous standard of four was held by the country's top two sophomores---Connecticut's Paige Bueckers and Iowa's All-American Caitlin Clark who leads the nation in scoring.
She was also the first to win 13 BIG EAST Freshman of the Week awards.
Morrow's streak of 23 consecutive double-doubles that was snapped at last week's BIG EAST tournament leaves her in very exclusive company as only three other players in NCAA history have 20-straight or more in one season.
She was not a highly touted recruit coming out of Simeon and proceeded to stun coaches nationwide with her 31-point, nine-rebound NCAA debut against Texas Southern. Morrow said that being overlooked and watching Top 25 schools lose interest while she battled through a series of injuries has her playing with a considerable chip on her broad shoulder.
The Blue Demon rookie has made sure to become a commanding presence on the court and in the classroom. She currently carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, competing academically with the same ferocity she displays in shorts and gym shoes.
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 student-athletes in November, which was narrowed to 10 candidates in February and now down to five.
This month, the finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.
The winner will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame's selection committee. Naismith Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will go live on Friday, March 11 on hoophallawards.com.
"It is an honor and a privilege to work alongside the Basketball Hall of Fame to recognize rising stars in the game," said Katrina McClain-Pittman, Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2012. "These student-athletes have all proven to be incredible athletes and leaders and it will be no easy task so select our winner."
The winner will be presented on a date to be determined along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five.
Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award in which DePaul's Sonya Morris is among the final five, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
Additional information about the award presentation including date and time will be released in the coming weeks.
Previous winners of the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award include NaLyssa Smith, Baylor (2021), Ruthy Hebard, Oregon (2018, 2020) and Napheesa Collier, Connecticut (2019).
For more information on the 2022 Katrina McClain Award and the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #McClainAward on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
G
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
F
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALLDePaul Women's Basketball vs. Providence Game Highlights - 3.6.26
Friday, March 06
DePaul Women's Basketball at Georgetown Game Highlights - 3.1.26
Monday, March 02
DePaul Women’s Basketball vs. Butler Postgame Press Conference.
Thursday, February 26
DePaul Women’s Basketball Game Highlights vs. Butler - 02.25.26
Thursday, February 26