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The U.S. Basketball Writers Association named Kentucky junior center Clara Strack All-America Honorable Mention Tuesday.
It had to be an easy choice since Strack is leading the team in points, rebounds, blocks and steals, averaging 17.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.58 blocks, 1.82 assists and 1.21 steals per game in 33 starts this season.
She has been named a Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Top Five Finalist and also named to the Naismith Player of the Year Late-Season Watch List and Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. Strack was a first-team all-Southeastern Conference pick and on the SEC All-Defensive Team.
USA Today named Strack a second-team All-American — as she should be. While honorable mention is an honor, Strack deserved more and here’s why thanks to UK sports information:
— the only player in the nation to average at least 17 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks per game.
— the only Power 4 player to average at least 17 points, 10 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
— the only Power 4 player to average at least 17 points, 10 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
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Strack and legendary Tennessee All-American Candace Parker (2005-07) are the only players to have at least 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 150 blocks, 125 assists and 50 steals within their first two seasons at a Southeastern Conference school. She also is the only active player in Division I to have at least 1,040 points, 630 rebounds, 155 blocks, 135 assists and 65 steals since the start of last season (her first season at UK).
Strack averaged 21.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game in SEC Tournament play and is the third fastest player in UK history (63) games to reach 1,000 points.
Going into NCAA Tournament play Saturday against James Madison she has 10 games of 20 or more points and two 30-point games. She has had 14 double-doubles and 16 games with 10 or more rebounds.
All those numbers are why Strack should be an all-American and not just an honorable mention All-American.
Otega Oweh Honored
Kentucky senior guard Otega Oweh was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Central District Second TeamTuesday. He was a first-team pick in 2025.
Going into NCAA Tournament play against Santa Clara Friday, Oweh leads the Wildcats with 18.2 points per game this season and has scored in double figures in 33 of the team’s 34 contests. He is averaging career highs in points, assists (2.6) and steals (1.8) this season.
His 618 points this year are the second-most in a single season ever by a transfer at Kentucky. He is also the first Wildcat to score at least 575 points in consecutive seasons since Jamal Mashburn in 1992 and 1993.
Oweh averaged 21.1 points per game in conference play and had 14 games with 20 or more points. He is only the fifth UK player since 1996-97 to average at least 21 points per game joining Jodie Meeks, Jamal Murray, Antonio Reeves and Malik Monk.
3 Responses
The only thing that hurt Strack was us losing so many games down the stretch and when Key was hurt it destroyed us. I hope Coach Brooks goes after two quality bigs in the portal. Strack will be a first team all American next year and a top 10 pick in the WNBA draft. We also have 3 McDonald's all Americans coming in. We need a point guard and and at least 2 bigs in the portal.
Oweh deserves to be second team all SEC. If we would have finished in the top 3-4 at least I could see first team. But finishing 9th in the SEC doesnt stack up. I honestly think Hubbard is the best player in the SEC. I think it's so stupid that players under 6 foot tall get no consideration. Hubbard for the last 3 years has dominated the SEC. If he happens to go in the portal. He would be my number one point guard choice to lead Kentucky to the promised land next year. He wouldn't have to average over 20 PPG at Kentucky. He could average 16-17 PPG and 6-7apg. And we would be unstoppable with the guys who are coming back next year. Imagine Hubbard/Chandler/Stokes/Jelly/Moreno next year as the starters.
Strack was as good as any player in the SEC. It was a snub. I think Ky has their 4 yr starting point guard coming. Greenway has won everything possible in Minnesota during her High School career. Hope they can still get one big from high school. At least one from the portal will probably be necessary.
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