STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford senior forward Alanna Smith is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2019 Naismith Women's College Player of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Monday.
The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, which have become the most prestigious national honors in all of college basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the Naismith Trophy recognizes the top Men's and Women's College Basketball Players of the Year. The four finalists will be announced March 22.
Smith remains on every major watch list in addition to the Naismith Trophy, including the Katrina McClain Award, Wooden Award, Wade Trophy and Senior CLASS Award, and has backed up that recognition with her play. She is shooting 51.7 percent from the field (215-of-416), 39.9 percent from behind the arc (65-of-163) and averaging a team-high 19.7 points per game to go with 8.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.
Smith, who averaged 20.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in 18 Pac-12 games this season, was one of two players in the country to average 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in conference. She is also one of two nationally averaging 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game overall and is attempting to become just the fifth player in program history to average 20.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in a season, joining Chiney Ogwumike (2013-14 and 2012-13), Nneka Ogwumike (2011-12), Nicole Powell (2003-04) and Jeanne Ruark Hoff (1979-80 and 1978-79).
Smith is also tracking to join Elena Delle Donne as the only players 6-foot-4 and taller over the past 20 years to shoot better than 40 percent from 3-point range for an entire season. Delle Donne made 41.3 percent as a freshman at Delaware in 2009-10 (NCAA minimum of two made 3-pointers per game).
The 6-foot-4 Smith is 13th in school history in scoring (1,576) and second in blocks (218) and has made 139 career 3-pointers. She is within range of joining an elite company of players that have put together careers of 1,600 points, 150 made triples and 200 blocks. Since 1999-00, the only three to do that are Delle Donne (3,039 points; 206 3-pointers; 273 blocks), Maya Moore (3,036 points; 311 3-pointers; 204 blocks) and Breanna Stewart (2,676 points; 152 3-pointers; 414 blocks).
This season she is 28th in the country in scoring (19.7) and 19th in blocks per game (2.45), the only player in the NCAA in the top 30 in both categories. Smith is one of six players to have 60+ 3-pointers and 60+ blocks in a single season across all of NCAA women's basketball since 1999-00 and with five more makes from deep would be just the second to accumulate 70 3-pointers and 70 blocks in a season. Her 71 rejections this year are second in Stanford history behind Jayne Appel's 84 in 2007-08.
Smith and the Cardinal are the No. 2 seed at next weekend's Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas and will open in the quarterfinals on Friday at 6 p.m. against the winner of No. 7 Cal and No. 10 Washington State.