Oct. 8, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s basketball senior forward DeNesha Stallworth has been named to the 2013-14 preseason “Wade Watch” list, as announced by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport.
Stallworth, who was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection by the league’s coaches last season, is UK’s leading returning scorer and second-leading rebounder for 2013-14. The Richmond, Calif., native averaged 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last year in helping lead the Wildcats to their third appearance in the Elite Eight in the last four years. The 6-foot-3 forward netted double figures in 27-of-35 games played, including 11-of-15 SEC contests. She ranked in the top-20 in SEC scoring (16th, 12.5 ppg), rebounding (19th, 6.0 rpg), field goal percentage (4th, .484) and blocks (5th, 1.5 bpg).
For her career, Stallworth is averaging 12.9 points and 6.3 rebounds. She has notched 21 career double-doubles, including a team-high nine double-doubles for the Cats, and has compiled 1,366 points (438 at UK) and 663 rebounds (209 at UK) in her collegiate career. She transferred to UK in 2011 after playing two seasons at the University of Cal-Berkley.
This marks the third straight season that a Wildcat has been named to the watch list. Former UK All-Americans Victoria Dunlap (Nashville, Tenn.) and A’dia Mathies (Louisville, Ky.) were also named to the watch list and were finalists for the prestigious award.
Now in its 37th year, The Wade Trophy is named in honor of the late, legendary three-time national champion Delta State University coach, Lily Margaret Wade. Regarded as “The Heisman of Women’s Basketball,” the award is presented annually to the NCAA Division I Player of the Year by the National Association of Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) and the WBCA.
The preseason list is composed of top NCAA Division I women’s basketball players who best embody Wade’s spirit from 18 different institutions and seven conferences. A committee of coaches, administrators and media from across the United States compiled the list using the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team, and overall playing ability.
Former Baylor standout Brittney Griner was named the 2012 and 2013 Wade Trophy winner.
The Wildcats return 10 letterwinners and four starters from last season’s NCAA Elite Eight squad that won a school record 30 games. Kentucky will be led by All-SEC performers Stallworth, Bria Goss (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Samarie Walker (West Carrollton, Ohio) and NCAA Tournament Bridgeport Regional All-Tournament Team honoree Jennifer O’Neill (Bronx, N.Y.). New faces to the roster are a trio of freshmen who come to Lexington with loaded resumes. McDonald’s All-Amercians Linnae Harper (Chicago) and Makayla Epps (Lebanon, Ky.) join Kyvin Goodin-Rogers (Lebanon, Ky.) to form the fifth-ranked recruiting class, the fourth straight top 15 class by head coach Matthew Mitchell.
Follow UK Hoops on Twitter and Instagram at @UKHoopCats and on Facebook by liking University of Kentucky Women’s Basketball.
