WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue women's basketball junior Ae'Rianna Harris was named to the 2018-19 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year preseason watch list Friday by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Harris is the first Boilermaker to be named to a positional watch list since Courtney Moses was a candidate for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year award in 2013-14.
"We're excited that Ae'Rianna is being recognized among the nation's best players at her position," said Purdue head coach Sharon Versyp. "She's already made some serious marks in the Purdue record books and we expect those kinds of performances to continue and get more impressive going forward. She's going to 'Wow' some people this season."
Harris is coming off a 2017-18 season in which she set Purdue sophomore records for rebounding (304) and blocked shots (105) on her way to 2018 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. She's the third player in Boilermaker history to earn the award and the third sophomore in conference history. Her 105 blocks were the most in the Big Ten and tied for fifth-most in the NCAA, and she was 1-of-4 players in the conference to grab at least 300 rebounds. She's the only returning player in the NCAA to post at least 300 points, 300 rebounds and 100 blocked shots in 2017-18.
Named after the three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its second year recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com. South Carolina's A'ja Wilson was the inaugural winner of the award in 2018.
2019 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
Kalani Brown, Baylor
Kristine Anigwe, California
Channon Fluker, Cal State Northridge
Daeja Smith , CSU-Fullerton
Jade Williams, Duke
Megan Gustafson, Iowa
Alex Wittinger, Illinois
Macee Williams, IUPUI
Sam Fuehring, Louisville
Hallie Thome , Michigan
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi St
Kate Cain, Nebraska
Jaisa Nunn, New Mexico
Janelle Bailey, North Carolina
Brianna Turner, Notre Dame
Ae'Rianna Harris, Purdue
Jordan Moore, TCU
Jatarie White, Texas
Katie Powell , UNLV
Mariella Fasoula, Vanderbilt
* Players can play their way on and off the list at any point in the 2018-19 season.
"We're excited that Ae'Rianna is being recognized among the nation's best players at her position," said Purdue head coach Sharon Versyp. "She's already made some serious marks in the Purdue record books and we expect those kinds of performances to continue and get more impressive going forward. She's going to 'Wow' some people this season."
Harris is coming off a 2017-18 season in which she set Purdue sophomore records for rebounding (304) and blocked shots (105) on her way to 2018 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. She's the third player in Boilermaker history to earn the award and the third sophomore in conference history. Her 105 blocks were the most in the Big Ten and tied for fifth-most in the NCAA, and she was 1-of-4 players in the conference to grab at least 300 rebounds. She's the only returning player in the NCAA to post at least 300 points, 300 rebounds and 100 blocked shots in 2017-18.
Named after the three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its second year recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com. South Carolina's A'ja Wilson was the inaugural winner of the award in 2018.
2019 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
Kalani Brown, Baylor
Kristine Anigwe, California
Channon Fluker, Cal State Northridge
Daeja Smith , CSU-Fullerton
Jade Williams, Duke
Megan Gustafson, Iowa
Alex Wittinger, Illinois
Macee Williams, IUPUI
Sam Fuehring, Louisville
Hallie Thome , Michigan
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi St
Kate Cain, Nebraska
Jaisa Nunn, New Mexico
Janelle Bailey, North Carolina
Brianna Turner, Notre Dame
Ae'Rianna Harris, Purdue
Jordan Moore, TCU
Jatarie White, Texas
Katie Powell , UNLV
Mariella Fasoula, Vanderbilt
* Players can play their way on and off the list at any point in the 2018-19 season.