Oregon State sophomore standout Taylor Jones has been named to the Preseason Watch List for the Katrina McClain Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced Thursday.
Named after the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its fourth year recognizes the top power forwards in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Jones, who was named as one of ESPN’s Top-10 Freshmen last season, was a Pac-12 All-Freshman selection in 2019-20 and was chosen as an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. She was a three-time conference Freshman of the Week and was named USBWA National Freshman of the Week in January.
Jones etched her name into the Oregon State freshman record book, setting the freshman record for blocks and sitting second in freshman rebounds and sixth in freshman scoring. The Forney, Texas native averaged 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season, and finished second in the Pac-12 in field goal percentage at 58.3. Overall, she had 10 double-doubles and 21 double-figure scoring games.
Oregon State is one of the most successful women’s basketball programs of the last decade, having appeared in every WBCA Coaches Poll since the end of the 2013-14 Season. The Beavers have made the last four Sweet 16’s and the last six NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four appearance in 2016.
Named after the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its fourth year recognizes the top power forwards in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Jones, who was named as one of ESPN’s Top-10 Freshmen last season, was a Pac-12 All-Freshman selection in 2019-20 and was chosen as an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. She was a three-time conference Freshman of the Week and was named USBWA National Freshman of the Week in January.
Jones etched her name into the Oregon State freshman record book, setting the freshman record for blocks and sitting second in freshman rebounds and sixth in freshman scoring. The Forney, Texas native averaged 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season, and finished second in the Pac-12 in field goal percentage at 58.3. Overall, she had 10 double-doubles and 21 double-figure scoring games.
Oregon State is one of the most successful women’s basketball programs of the last decade, having appeared in every WBCA Coaches Poll since the end of the 2013-14 Season. The Beavers have made the last four Sweet 16’s and the last six NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four appearance in 2016.
