Khamil Pierre Recognized on Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Preseason Watchlist
10/30/2025 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH – Khamil Pierre of the NC State women's basketball team has been named to the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watchlist, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Thursday. The award recognizes the best power forward in women's college basketball.
Pierre was a big pickup for NC State in the offseason, as she joined the Wolfpack in August after two seasons at Vanderbilt. As a sophomore, Pierre averaged a career-best 20.4 points per game off 49.8 percent shooting with 9.6 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game across 30.5 minutes per game. Pierre led the SEC in field goals made (273) and was second in steals per game, third in rebounds per game, fourth in points per game and sixth in field goal percentage. Her scoring average was ranked No. 19 in the country. She was a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention choice and one of five finalists for the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award.
The Phoenix, Arizona native broke a prior Vanderbilt single-game scoring record with 42 points (19-of-28) with 18 rebounds and eight steals vs. Evansville. She ended her sophomore season with 17 double-doubles and had double digits in scoring in all but one of her 32 game appearances with 16 20-point games and two 30-point contests. As a rookie, Pierre earned a spot on the All-SEC Freshman Team, averaging 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while scoring 10.4 points per game in conference contests. She was also a five-time SEC Freshman of the Week recipient, which became a Vanderbilt school record.
The award is named after two-time All-American, 1987 Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 2012 Hall of Famer Katrina McClain. The award is in its ninth year.
Pierre is one of five ACC power forwards on the watchlist. The list will remain fluid as the season goes on to give players the opportunity to move on and off the list until the final five are selected. The list will narrow down to 10 in late January and the final five are announced in March. The award winner and presentation details will be announced at the Final Four. Fan voting is now open.
The Basketball Hall of Fame announced the top 20 preseason nominees for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Monday and the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watchlist. Zoe Brooks and Zamareya Jones were named on each respective list.
NC State will officially open the season against No. 8 Tennessee on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Tickets for the game can be purchased HERE.
Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watchlist
Essence Cody, Alabama
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor
Toby Fournier, Duke
Meghan Andersen, Fairfield
Allie Kubek, Florida State
Hannah Suelke, Iowa
Addy Brown, Iowa State
Amiya Joyner, LSU
Mir McLean, Maryland
Khamil Pierre, NC State
Natalie Potts, Nebraska
Latasha Lattimore, Ole Miss
Maggie Doogan, Richmond
Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
Nunu Agara, Stanford
Janiah Barker, Tennessee
Sienna Betts, UCLA
Sarah Strong, UConn
Sacha Washington, Vanderbilt
Sa'Myah Smith, Virginia
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