ATLANTA – Tennessee junior forward Rennia Davis is among 30 players included in the “Wade Watch” list of candidates for the 2020 Wade Trophy presented to the best player in college women’s basketball, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced on Thursday.
The Wade Trophy, now in its 43nd year, is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
The “Wade Watch” list of candidates for the Wade Trophy is composed of players selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Selection Committee. The committee will review the list in January to determine if additional players will be added based on their play during the first half of the 2019-20 season.
This marks the fourth preseason watch list of 2019-20 for Davis. She was previously named to the Citizen Naismith Trophy, John R. Wooden Award and Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watch Lists. Additionally, she was selected to the Preseason All-SEC First Team by the coaches and earned second-team honors from the media.
A 6-foot-2 product of Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida, Davis led UT in scoring (14.9), rebounding (7.7) and free throw percentage (.856) in her second season on Rocky Top. She ranked No. 1 in the SEC in free throw percentage, No. 8 in rebounding and No. 12 in scoring a year ago.
Davis’ scoring average tied for No. 5 all-time by a UT sophomore, while her rebound average was the ninth-best for a second-year performer at Tennessee. Her sophomore-year double-double total (9) was the sixth-most by an active player in the SEC last season and the second-most by an underclassman.
Davis and her teammates opened up their 2019-20 season Tuesday night in Johnson City, Tenn., taking a 72-68 win over East Tennessee State. The Lady Vol standout tallied 13 points, 10 rebounds and two assists, carding the 19th double-double of her career. She is tied for 19th on UT’s all-time double-doubles list entering Thursday night’s home opener vs. Central Arkansas. Tip time is 7 p.m. ET, and the game will be streamed on SECN+ and carried by Lady Vol Network stations and streamed live on UTSports.com.
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