DeAntoine Beasley Assistant Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
DeAntoine Beasley Assistant Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois guard Genesis Bryant has been named to the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Top-20 Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Naismith Awards. This marks her first inclusion on this list, making her one of 20 players nationally and one of four from the Big Ten conference to receive this preseason recognition.
Bryant is entering her third and final season with the Fighting Illini women's basketball team. Last season, she was an All-Big Ten honorable mention honoree. The Jonesboro, Georgia native started all 34 games last year, averaging 14.2 points, 3.2 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game.
Her performance in the WBIT all-tournament team was pivotal in Illinois' journey to their inaugural WBIT championship title. She scored in double figures four times during their postseason run.
During the 2023-24 season, Bryant became the first Illinois player since Karisma Penn in the 2010-11 season to have multiple 30-point games in a single season. She also recorded 24 double-digit scoring efforts and had four games with over 20 points.
Bryant joins Makira Cook as another Fighting Illini athlete recognized on a Naismith Starting 5 Awards' preseason watch list; Cook was named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Top-20 Preseason Watch List earlier this week.
The Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award watch list will be narrowed down to ten nominees by late January, with five finalists announced in late March.
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