Tennessee’s Shekinna Stricklen received an awards first on Wednesday.
The Lady Vols’ 6-foot-2 guard was named national freshman of the year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, becoming the first Lady Vol to receive the USBWA honor.
Stricklen was “very excited and honored” by the award. Based on other postseason awards, she pulled off an upset.
Stricklen wasn’t voted freshman of the year in her own conference. Arkansas’ Ceira Ricketts and LSU’s LaSondra Barrett shared the honor on the SEC coaches’ team. Ricketts was newcomer of the year on the Associated Press’ All-SEC team.
“I am extremely blessed to be able to play basketball at Tennessee, as it has always been my dream,’’ Stricklen said in a release. “There are so many great players in women’s collegiate hoops that this is truly a special honor.”
Stricklen, who was a unanimous pick to the SEC coaches’ all-freshman team and made second-team All-SEC, led the Lady Vols in scoring (13.3 points per game) and started 32 of 33 games. Her scoring high was 26 points against Auburn on Jan. 25.
“I cannot imagine us not having her this season as her offensive skill set was incredibly important to our success,’’ UT coach Pat Summitt said. “She is determined to get better, and I am very glad we have her at Tennessee.”
Spani’s Schedule: Lady Vols signee Taber Spani’s all-star week began Wednesday night with the McDonald’s High School All-America Game in Coral Gables, Fla.
Spani, a 6-1 guard who averaged 32.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for Metro Academy in Olathe, Kansas, will play in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-America Game Saturday in St. Louis.
The game is held in conjunction with the Women’s Final Four.
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Comments » 18
98reax writes:
Nice accolade. Gongrats to Stricklen. She will be a jewell next season, especially if we develop a capable point guard to complement her aggressive style of play.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
A great honor, to be sure. I was wondering, though; did the article mean to say that she was the first female athlete to win this award that had previously been given only to males or was this the first time that group had a category for "Female Freshman of the Year"? If the former, the award would be even more impressive.
Volunatic writes:
Congratulations, Shekinna! You were certainly one of the bright spots of this team, and I'm looking forward to watching you play for UT over the next three years, too.
GO LADY VOLS!
qspr91iz writes:
Congratulations Shekinna
When we win the national championship during your junior year this season will be forgotten.
GO VOLS!!!
LadyVolFanForever writes:
Congratulations Shekinna, this award is very deserving. I know you will be a great player for the Lady Vols as you have the drive to continue to learn and become an even better player.
MillisaAnn writes:
Congratulations Shekinna!!!
Go Lady Vols!!!
pammyvol1000 writes:
Congrats to Shekinna.. I can't wait to see her up it a notch next year.
I hope all our other Freshman are watching the games and just how good Freshman on these teams in the final rounds are stepping up for their team.
Shekinna should really blossom next year.
I hope they can find a point guard.
CTOWNICON writes:
Well deserved! She did a good job playing a position she was not comfortable with. That says a lot about her willingness to learn the game and to get better at it. With extra work in the off season she is going to be a great player next season. When her game gels together she is going to be a beast in nikes on the court. Can't wait until she starts driving to the basket more.
jsmithnga#207674 writes:
National freshman of the year but not SEC freshman of the year. I think we have heard something similar to this last year about SEC player of the year.
ladyvolmaniac writes:
Congrats Shekinna!!!
queens2183#661836 writes:
"pammyvol1000 writes:
Congrats to Shekinna.. I can't wait to see her up it a notch next year.
I hope all our other Freshman are watching the games and just how good Freshman on these teams in the final rounds are stepping up for their team. Shekinna should really blossom next year. I hope they can find a point guard."
What TN's freshmen will see are freshmen on VETERAN teams with plenty of leadership that are thriving under those circumstances. This team didn't have that luxury and so can't be compared to other freshmen that did. It's not an even comparison. If anything seeing those freshmen there will motivate them to get TN back there next year.
Kinna definitely deserved this award and anyone who doesn't think she layed it on the line for this team when she was on the floor missed the boat. This kid should have won SEC FOY and was punished for TN's struggles in a way that Ricketts wasn't punished for Arkansas being bad this year. Glad the writers got it right and see that she really is a great player in the making who had a great year despite the struggles of a young, inexperienced, freshman-laden TN team.
rocky_topper writes:
Congrats Shekinna! We are lucky to have you!
reachkim00 writes:
Congratulations Shekinna!! Very well deserved. Looking forward to the season coming up this year and the road to another National Championship. I believe in and support Pat and our Lady Vols 110% and am really looking forward to seeing the incoming freshmen contribute to what I believe will be a killer instinct attitude in every area of the court. GO LADY VOLS!!!!!!!!!
BigRMan writes:
It seems Shekinna put forth her best effort in whatever situation or position she was asked to play. You cannot ask anymore of someone than to give it their best. Congrats on the award!
ge446#212600 writes:
Strickland had to literally carry this team on some nights. She most definately deserves this honor. Had she had a real point guard to allow her to play the wing/small forward she would have been even more productive. If anything she may have shown too much heart and not enough composure at times...
98reax writes:
Why must you (you know who you are) be so skeptical? It's obvious the powers that be who actually recognize talent, potential and toughness see things you jugheads are not seeing. Perhaps they are willing to give a kid the benefit of doubt without extreme ridiculous expectations.
If these freshmen had been surrounded by experienced teammates with veteran leadership on and off the court, perhaps they would have had the mindset to absorb the Xs&Os being coached inside Pratt.
IF they had not been forced to deal with one injury right after the other, losing a veteran point guard to a career-ending injury, losing their most capable post player and practicing 50% of the time without the second-best post player, if, if. . .
This plague of injuries could creep into an athlete's head. Imagine practicing full speed ahead day in and day out with that blasted little thought of 'Oh my gosh, that could be me over there with the crutches.' It has to be frightening for a kid to see her golden opportunity going down the toilet.
I haven't noticed any golden opportunities that would compare to playing for Pat Summitt, but I sure have a horror of becoming disabled. I have no golden goose. When I see folks falling about me, I have a tendency to become overly cautious in my activities. Maybe I don't go full speed ahead.
IF they could have had the benefit of practicing consecutive days with the cteam intact, they could possibly have developed a more cohesive chemistry. Instead, a rather tenuous morale in combination with paranoia and late season pressure got the better of them.
There's always next season. I for one think they will be awesome.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
"IF they could have had the benefit of practicing consecutive days with the team intact, they could possibly have developed a more cohesive chemistry. Instead, a rather tenuous morale in combination with paranoia and late season pressure got the better of them."
Geez 98, what do you do for a living? You seriously should be writing somewhere. I think I have read every post of yours this year and I have to give you some serious props for the insight you are able to give. Always intelligent and oh my, what a way with words. Thanks for your dedication to the LV's!
I also think they will be awesome next year. My hotel is already booked in Duluth to watch them cut down the nets at the SEC tournament! Does anybody know where the final four is in 2010?
BigRMan writes:
I think I saw somewhere that the Women's Final Four in '10 was to be in San Antonio
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