KNOXVILLE, Tenn. โ Tennessee women’s basketball standout Rickea Jackson has been selected as the TSWA Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year in the state, the Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced on Wednesday.
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Jackson is the third player to earn the accolade as a Lady Vol, following in the footsteps of 2021 winner Rennia Davis and 2008 honoree Candace Parker. Destinee Wells, who now plays at UT, won the award in 2022 and 2023 as a Belmont Bruin before transferring to Rocky Top.
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A 6-foot-2 forward, Jackson averaged 20.2 ppg. and 8.2 rpg. in 2023-24 to leadย the SEC in scoring with the ninth-best single-season average in UT history. She earned AP/USBWA/WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, All-SEC First Team and Cheryl Miller Award finalist distinction before being selected No. 4 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
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She is one of only six Lady Vols to average 20+ points in a season along withย Patricia Roberts (29.9), Chamique Holdsclaw (23.5, 21.3, 20.6), Cindy Brogdon (21.7, 20.1), Candace Parker (21.3) and Bridgette Gordon (20.8, 20.4).
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During the NCAA Tournament, Jackson averaged 29.5 ppg. and 9.5 rpg. and shot 63.9 percent on field goals, 50 percent on threes and 91.7 percent on free throws. She produced 25.0 ppg., 10.0 rpg. and 3.2 apg. while hitting 46.5 percent vs. six ranked opponents.
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Jackson overcame an early season leg injury to scoreย in double figures 24 times in 25 games, including 13 occasionsย with 20 or more points and two of those above 30. The number of 20+ efforts increased her two-year total on Rocky Top to 29, which ranks as the fifth-best ever by a Lady Vol behind only program legends Chamique Holdsclaw (83), Bridgette Gordon (58), Candace Parker (48) and Tamika Catchings (37). All of those players except Parker (three) spent four seasons at Tennessee.
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Her 19.6 ppg. career average at UT ranks fourth all-timeย behind Patriciaย Roberts (29.9, 1976-77), Cindy Brogdon (20.8, 1977-79)ย and Chamique Holdsclaw (20.4, 1995-99), and just ahead of Candace Parker (19.4).
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Now a four-time All-America honorable mention selection, three-time All-SEC performer and two-time Cheryl Miller Award finalist, Jackson became the 46th Lady Vol taken in all WNBA Drafts and the 44th in drafts featuring only college players.ย She became the 21st Lady Vol taken in the first round (19th in college-only drafts) and gave UT first-round picks in four consecutive drafts for the first…
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Jackson is the third player to earn the accolade as a Lady Vol, following in the footsteps of 2021 winner Rennia Davis and 2008 honoree Candace Parker. Destinee Wells, who now plays at UT, won the award in 2022 and 2023 as a Belmont Bruin before transferring to Rocky Top.
ย
A 6-foot-2 forward, Jackson averaged 20.2 ppg. and 8.2 rpg. in 2023-24 to leadย the SEC in scoring with the ninth-best single-season average in UT history. She earned AP/USBWA/WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, All-SEC First Team and Cheryl Miller Award finalist distinction before being selected No. 4 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
ย
She is one of only six Lady Vols to average 20+ points in a season along withย Patricia Roberts (29.9), Chamique Holdsclaw (23.5, 21.3, 20.6), Cindy Brogdon (21.7, 20.1), Candace Parker (21.3) and Bridgette Gordon (20.8, 20.4).
ย
During the NCAA Tournament, Jackson averaged 29.5 ppg. and 9.5 rpg. and shot 63.9 percent on field goals, 50 percent on threes and 91.7 percent on free throws. She produced 25.0 ppg., 10.0 rpg. and 3.2 apg. while hitting 46.5 percent vs. six ranked opponents.
ย
Jackson overcame an early season leg injury to scoreย in double figures 24 times in 25 games, including 13 occasionsย with 20 or more points and two of those above 30. The number of 20+ efforts increased her two-year total on Rocky Top to 29, which ranks as the fifth-best ever by a Lady Vol behind only program legends Chamique Holdsclaw (83), Bridgette Gordon (58), Candace Parker (48) and Tamika Catchings (37). All of those players except Parker (three) spent four seasons at Tennessee.
ย
Her 19.6 ppg. career average at UT ranks fourth all-timeย behind Patriciaย Roberts (29.9, 1976-77), Cindy Brogdon (20.8, 1977-79)ย and Chamique Holdsclaw (20.4, 1995-99), and just ahead of Candace Parker (19.4).
ย
Now a four-time All-America honorable mention selection, three-time All-SEC performer and two-time Cheryl Miller Award finalist, Jackson became the 46th Lady Vol taken in all WNBA Drafts and the 44th in drafts featuring only college players.ย She became the 21st Lady Vol taken in the first round (19th in college-only drafts) and gave UT first-round picks in four consecutive drafts for the first…
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