North Carolina State University Athletics
James, Rivers Make Preseason Wooden Award Top 50 Watch List
11/7/2024 3:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – The guard pair of Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers have made another watch list, as both are on the 2024-25 John R. Wooden Award Top 50 Preseason Watch List. This marks Rivers' second time on this watch list, after being on the top 25 and 50 lists last season, as well as James' first.
Rivers averaged 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.9 blocks in 35.2 minutes per game as a junior. She was an All-ACC First Team and All-Defensive Team selection, as well as AP All-America Honorable Mention choice. Last season, Rivers led the Pack in steals, defensive rebounds/game (5.5) and minutes/game. She finished her junior season with 23 double-digit scoring games, five 20+ point contests, one 30-piece, three double-doubles and 14 5+ assist games. Rivers opened the season with 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals in the season opener vs. ETSU, and is also on the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List.
James led the Pack with 16.8 points per game with 4.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 31.8 minutes per game last year to be an All-ACC First Team selection. She increased her scoring average by 10 points, marking the highest scoring average increase by any ACC player last year (6.8 PPG to 16.8 PPG). During the NCAA Tournament Final Four run, James averaged 23.4 points and 3.2 assists per game, and was tabbed to the Portland 4 Regional Most Outstanding Player and All-Tournament Team. She ended the season with 31 double-digit scoring games, 12 20-point games and two 30-point contests. James logged 17 points and nine rebounds against ETSU on Tuesday.
Rivers and James were also named to the ACC Preseason Team and the Jersey Mike's Naismith Women's Player of the Year Watch List Presented by Axia Time.
The players on the top 50 list are considered strong candidates for the 2025 John R. Woden Award Women's Player of the Year. Players not chosen on the preseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award Midseason list, late season list and National Ballot, which consists of 15 players. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight round, and the winner will be presented at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 11, 2025.
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