Bryant Named to Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Top-20 Preseason Watch List

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois fifth-year guard Genesis Bryant has earned a place on the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Top-20 Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Awards announced on Tuesday.

Bryant was included on the award's preseason watch list for the first time in her career, while she is one of 20 players nationally and one of four Big Ten student-athletes to secure the preseason recognition.

Now entering her third and final season with the Fighting Illini women's basketball program, Bryant was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention honoree following the 2023-24 campaign. The Jonesboro, Georgia, native started all 34 games last season while averaging 14.2 points, 3.2 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.

Bryant was named to the WBIT all-tournament team and played a key role in the Illini's path to the inaugural WBIT championship, scoring in double figures four times during the program's run to their first-ever postseason title.

During Illinois' 2023-24 slate, Bryant became the first Illini to have multiple 30-point games in a season since Karisma Penn did so during the 2010-11 season. Bryant also posted 24 double-digit scoring efforts and four outings with 20+ points.

Bryant is the second Fighting Illini student-athlete 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 late January, while five finalists will be revealed in late March.

2024-25 Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award Candidates*

*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point during the 2024-25 season.