Bradley University Athletics

Lasha Petree Named To Naismith Player Of The Year Watch List

2021 Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List Announcement

Women's Basketball 11/17/2020 9:05:00 AM

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Bradley Women's Basketball junior guard Lasha Petree (Detroit, Mich./Arbor Prep) has been named to the 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Watch List according to an announcement by the Atlanta Tipoff Club Tuesday morning.

The preseason Naismith Trophy National Player of the Year Watch List included 50 individuals from 11 conferences with Petree the lone representative from the Missouri Valley Conference.

Earlier this Fall, Petree was selected as the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year after taking home both First-Team All-MVC and MVC All-Defensive honors as a sophomore. The top returning scorer in the MVC, she ranked fourth in the league at 16.5 points per game; scoring in double figures in 25 of 29 outings with 10 performances of 20 or more points in 2019-20.

Petree was the only player in the nation last year with at least 67 made three-pointers and 50 blocks, becoming the first player in MVC history to reach those totals in the same season. In fact, only three other individuals in the country reached both marks in the same season over the last five years. Petree was a three-time MVC Player of the Week selection in 2019-20 and became just the second sophomore in program history to reach 800 career points.

The high scoring guard has helped the Braves to the first back-to-back 20-win seasons in program history, highlighted by a school record 22 victories last year. Bradley was picked a program-best second in the MVC Preseason Poll announced in October.

Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards is administered by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches.

"The competition for the 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy will intensify as more players enter the competition throughout the season, but these 50 candidates are the early contenders to watch," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "While last season was unlike any college basketball season we've experienced, we hope these athletes have the opportunity to compete through their entire schedule this season and showcase the full breadth of their abilities and talent."

The midseason 30 team will be announced in early February; players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. Then, the competition will be narrowed down to 10 national semifinalists on March 2, 2021, and four finalists will be named on March 19, 2021. The winner of the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on April 3, 2021.

Bradley Women's Basketball is slated to open the 2020-21 season Nov. 25 with a home contest against Kansas City.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Lasha Petree: G; 6' 0"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#11 Lasha Petree
: 6' 0"; Junior
: G

Lasha Petree Named To Naismith Player Of The Year Watch List

Players Mentioned

#11 Lasha Petree

Players Mentioned

#11 Lasha Petree