North Carolina State University Athletics
Hayes, James Named to Watch List for Drysdale USBWA National Player of the Year
2/28/2024 9:39:00 AM | Women's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS – Headed into the final week of the regular season, NC State women's basketball guards Aziaha James and Madison Hayes have been named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale USBWA National Player of the Year watch list.
They are two of 40 players who will be placed on the association's annual awards ballot and also be considered for the 15-player U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-America Team. The Ann Meyers Drysald Award winner will be announced at the NCAA Women's Final Four.
James continues to lead the Pack in scoring, with her average of 16.0 points per game checking in as an increase of 9.2 points per game more than last season. She is ranked 10th in the ACC in scoring with 22 games in double figures, seven 20+ point games and a pair of 30+ point games.
A native of Virginia Beach, Va., James also leads this year's Wolfpack team in threes made with 53 on the year. Her average of 1.9 per game is also a top-10 ACC mark. After scoring 33 points against Duke and 30 versus Georgia Tech, James became the first NC State player since 2018-19 to have multiple 30+ point games in the same season. She also set a single-quarter program scoring record with 19 points in her very first period played this season.
The junior has played in all 60 of the Pack's games the last two season and has a team-best streak of 34 straight starts. In addition to her scoring mark, James is putting up averages of 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 41.1 percent (165-of-401) overall and 33.5 percent (53-of-158) from distance.
Hayes earned the nod to the watch list amidst posting the best scoring average of her career as well with 12.1 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounding with 6.9 per game, an average that ranks seventh in the ACC. Hayes has posted five double-doubles in 2023-24, with that tying as the team lead.
The Chattanooga, Tenn., native was named a USBWA National Player of the Week on Feb. 20 after averaging 15.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 50 percent shooting in that previous week's wins against No. 16 Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. She set a new career high in scoring (24 points) at Clemson and has a total of three 20+ point games and 20 10+ point games during her senior season.
Hayes also leads the team in three-point percentage with a clip of .431 (47-of-109) while averaging 1.7 made threes per game. She also has played in all 60 games for NC State the last two seasons.
The entire Wolfpack squad, which has been ranked in the AP Top 15 since Week 2 of the campaign, will prepare for its final two games of regular-season against No. 19 Syracuse (Thursday, Feb. 29) and Wake Forest (Sunday, March 3).
They are two of 40 players who will be placed on the association's annual awards ballot and also be considered for the 15-player U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-America Team. The Ann Meyers Drysald Award winner will be announced at the NCAA Women's Final Four.
James continues to lead the Pack in scoring, with her average of 16.0 points per game checking in as an increase of 9.2 points per game more than last season. She is ranked 10th in the ACC in scoring with 22 games in double figures, seven 20+ point games and a pair of 30+ point games.
A native of Virginia Beach, Va., James also leads this year's Wolfpack team in threes made with 53 on the year. Her average of 1.9 per game is also a top-10 ACC mark. After scoring 33 points against Duke and 30 versus Georgia Tech, James became the first NC State player since 2018-19 to have multiple 30+ point games in the same season. She also set a single-quarter program scoring record with 19 points in her very first period played this season.
The junior has played in all 60 of the Pack's games the last two season and has a team-best streak of 34 straight starts. In addition to her scoring mark, James is putting up averages of 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 41.1 percent (165-of-401) overall and 33.5 percent (53-of-158) from distance.
Hayes earned the nod to the watch list amidst posting the best scoring average of her career as well with 12.1 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounding with 6.9 per game, an average that ranks seventh in the ACC. Hayes has posted five double-doubles in 2023-24, with that tying as the team lead.
The Chattanooga, Tenn., native was named a USBWA National Player of the Week on Feb. 20 after averaging 15.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 50 percent shooting in that previous week's wins against No. 16 Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. She set a new career high in scoring (24 points) at Clemson and has a total of three 20+ point games and 20 10+ point games during her senior season.
Hayes also leads the team in three-point percentage with a clip of .431 (47-of-109) while averaging 1.7 made threes per game. She also has played in all 60 games for NC State the last two seasons.
The entire Wolfpack squad, which has been ranked in the AP Top 15 since Week 2 of the campaign, will prepare for its final two games of regular-season against No. 19 Syracuse (Thursday, Feb. 29) and Wake Forest (Sunday, March 3).
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballCoach Moore Postgame Presser (Syracuse)
Sunday, February 22
WBB Players Postgame Presser (Syracuse)
Sunday, February 22
Brooks, Coach Moore Postgame at VT
Sunday, February 08
Coach Moore Postgame Presser (Florida State)
Thursday, February 05