Rhyne Howard named preseason AP All-American

Make that three preseason All-American honors for Rhyne Howard. The Kentucky Women’s Basketball senior guard earned First-Team All-American recognition from the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Howard now holds preseason All-American consideration from the AP, Lindy’s Sports, and The Athletic. This will be the second consecutive season that she’s been named a preseason First-Team All-American by the AP. Howard wound up making the First-Team in 202-21 and has been picked to do the same in 2021-22.

Another one for @howard_rhyne 🔥@AP_Sports is the third media outlet to name Howard to their Preseason All-America First Team this season!#CrownHer👑 pic.twitter.com/fE0QDTFKKE

— Kentucky WBB (@KentuckyWBB) October 26, 2021

Howard joins the likes of Paige Bueckers (UConn), Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), NaLyssa Smith (Baylor), and Caitlin Clark (Iowa) as preseason AP All-Americans.

Stacking the awards

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for Rhyne Howard, who was also tabbed the SEC Preseason Player of the Year by both the coaches and the media. The Cleveland, TN native has already taken home the award the last two seasons and will look to become just the third SEC player ever to win it three times in a row.

During the 2020-21 season, Howard posted averages of 20.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per outing on a shooting split of 44.4/37.3/77.9 in 24 games played. She’s on pace to finish her Wildcat career as the program’s second all-time leading scorer behind the great Valerie Still.

Kentucky WBB will begin its 2021-22 season campaign on Thursday, Nov. 4 in an exhibition matchup against Lee University at Memorial Coliseum. The season-opener will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 9 against Presbyterian College.