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James, Rivers Listed on 2024-25 Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year Watch List

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RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State women’s basketball guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers are two of 50 players nationwide to be chosen on the 2024-25 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Women’s Player of the Year Watch List Presented by Axia Time. Rivers and James were both named to the 10-person All-ACC Preseason Team and are coming off junior seasons, which were capped off with All-ACC First Team honors. NC State is one of three schools in the ACC with multiple representatives on the watch list.

Rivers is coming off a 2023-24 season having averaged 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.9 blocks in 35.2 minutes per game. She was an ACC All-Defensive Team selection and AP All-America Honorable Mention choice. The guard was also on the Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year Watch List last season and a top 10 candidate for the Ann Meyers Drysale Award. Last season, Rivers led the Pack in steals, defensive rebounds/game (5.5) and minutes/game. She finished her junior season with 23 double-digit scoring games, five 20+ point contests, one 30-piece, three double-doubles and 14 5+ assist games.

James has also established herself as one of the top shooting guards and players in the country. As a junior, she led the Pack with 16.8 points per game with 4.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 31.8 minutes per game. She increased her scoring average by 10 points, marking the highest scoring average increase by any ACC player last year (6.8 PPG to 16.8 PPG). During the NCAA Tournament Final Four run, James was unstoppable, as she averaged 23.4 points and 3.2 assists per game. James was tabbed the Portland 4 Regional Most Outstanding Player and was honored to the All-Tournament Team. She ended the season with 31 double-digit scoring games, 12 20-point games and two 30-point contests.

The watch list will be trimmed to 30 players in mid-February and the semifinalists will be followed with an announcement in March. The finalists will be announced on March 24 and the Player of the Year will be revealed on April 2.

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