James Akinjo and NaLyssa Smith Named to Wooden Award Top 20 Lists

WACO, Texas – Baylor seniors James Akinjo and NaLyssa Smith were named to the men’s and women’s John R. Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 watch lists respectively by the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Monday. 

Akinjo is one of two Big 12 players on the 20-member list, along with Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji. 

The Oakland, Calif., native leads the Big 12 in assists (5.7/game), ranks 2nd in steals (2.2/game) and 11th in scoring (12.9/game). He also ranks 17th nationally in assists (5.6/game) and 16th nationally in steals (2.17/game).

In addition to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20, Akinjo is also on the Naismith Trophy Watch List, the Lute Olson Award Midseason Watch List and the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Top 10. Additionally, he was named to the Sporting News Midseason All-America First team.

Smith is also one of two Big 12 players on the 20-member list, along with Iowa State’s Ashley Joens. The Baylor forrward is currently top-20 in the country in points per game (20.2) and rebounds per game (11.4). She is one of four players in the nation who is averaging 20+ points and 10+ rebounds a game.

The Converse, Texas, native is No. 12 in Baylor history in career points with 1,662. She also has 912 career rebounds. In addition to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20, Smith is on the Naismith Award Watch List as well as the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.

The next step is for the players to reach the Wooden Award national ballots, which will consist of 15 players each. More than 1,000 voters will rank those players entering into the NCAA Tournament. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the Elite Eight, and the winner of the Wooden Award will be announced following the NCAA Tournament in April.