CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Illinois women’s basketball guard Genesis Bryant was added to the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Top-20 Preseason Watch List. This was the first time in her college career for Bryant. She is one of 20 players nationally and one of four Big Ten student-athletes to be awarded the preseason recognition.
Now entering her third and final season with the Fighting Illini, Bryant was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention honoree after the 2023-24 season. She started all 34 games last season while averaging 14.2 points, 3.2 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. Last season, Bryant became the first Illini to have multiple 30-point games in a season since Karisma Penn during the 2010-11 season.
Bryant was named to the WBIT all-tournament team and was a team leader in the Illini’s path to the WBIT championship. She scored in double figures four times during the tournament run.
Bryant is the second Illini women’s basketball player to earn a spot on one of the Naismith Starting 5 Awards’ preseason watch lists after Makira Cook was named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Top-20 Preseason Watch List on Monday.
The Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award watch list will be narrowed down to 10 nominees in January, while five finalists will be revealed in late March.