Rhyne Howard, right, guarded former UK All-American Makayla Epps during Sunday's Blue-White Game. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky coach Kyra Elzy knows that Rhyne Howard is already being projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft and wants to make sure she helps her reach that plateau.
“The two things we have challenged Rhyne with to take her game to the next level … she is extremely talented and gifted and her basketball IQ is phenomenal and can score at all three levels,” Elzy said Monday at UK’s Media Day. “But the one thing that we have worked with her on all summer is her post-game, being able to post up. She is a big-body guard. She needs to post more consistently and finish.
“Two, not resting defensively. She is unbelievable defensively when she is locked in and playing hard. Challenging her to get steals and pick up the ball and be aggressive. And ask her to rebound the ball. She rebounds really well, I still think she can be in double figures in rebounding. Those are the challenges.”
It’s hard to find fault with Howard’s play. She was the only player in the nation last year to average over 20 points (20.7) and at least 7.3 rebounds per game and also have 90 assists and 60 steals. Howard led UK in assists (91) and was second in steals (61) last season.
Howard hit 56 3-pointers and shot 44.4 percent from the field despite being the target of every defense UK faced.
Howard’s versatility has improved consistently as she increased her rebounding, assists and steals per game from both her freshman and sophomore seasons. She also played her best in 11 games against ranked foes when she averaged 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game and shot 47 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from 3-point range.
Overall, Howard led UK in scoring in 15 games, rebounding 13 games, assists 13 games, blocks 11 games, and steals seven games.
“Obviously Rhyne Howard is a big part of what we do. But there is no person bigger than this team and she understands that in order for her to be her best she needs her teammates around her,” Elzy said.
“There is a good balance there. She has their respect and they play hard for her but she always plays hard for them as well. In order for her to be her best, we have to be at our best.
“We have to continue to challenge her every day to be better. Just because she is talented we have to make sure she is working on her game and playing her best in practice as well.”
