Bostic Named McClain Award Top 10 Candidate
February 6, 2025 | Women's Basketball
NEWS
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic has been named one of the top 10 candidates for the Katrina McClain Award Power Forward of the Year, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Thursday.
One of two honorees from the Big Ten, Bostic is averaging 16.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 34.5 minutes per game across her final year of collegiate basketball. She has started 115 consecutive games since transferring to Illinois ahead of her sophomore season and now holds the program's career rebounding record.
Bostic is shooting 53% from the field, 30.4% from 3-point range, and 87.5% from the free throw line this season. She owns 49 career double-doubles, all coming with the Orange and Blue. The same day Bostic broke Illinois' program rebounding record, she moved into third place on the Big Ten's all-time boards list.
In addition to her recognition as a Top 10 candidate for the McClain Award, Bostic has already earned Big Ten Player of the Week, AP Player of the Week Honorable Mention, and Her Hoops Stats Midseason First Team All-Big Ten honors in her final collegiate campaign. Bostic was also part of the 20-player McClain Power Forward Preseason Watch List.
Bostic is the first player in program history to be named a top 10 candidate for any Basketball Hall of Fame's Naismith Starting 5 award.
Now in its eighth year, the McClain Award honors the legacy of Katrina McClain, who was a two-time All-American, 1987 National Player of the Year, and Class of 2012 Hall of Famer. The award is given annually to the top power forward in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting on Friday, Feb. 7, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
In March, the Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to the award selection committee, which is composed of the top women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2025 McClain Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Katrina McClain Award are Kiki Iriafen, Stanford (2024); Maddy Siegrist, Villanova (2023); NaLyssa Smith, Baylor (2021-22); Ruthy Hebard, Oregon (2018, '20); and Napheesa Collier, Connecticut (2019).
2025 Katrina McClain Award Top 10 Candidates*
- DeYona Gaston, Auburn
- Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor
- Makayla Timpson, Florida State
- Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga
- Kendall Bostic, Illinois
- Addy Brown, Iowa State
- Aneesah Morrow, LSU
- Liatu King, Notre Dame
- Sania Feagin, South Carolina
- Kiki Iriafen, USC
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2024-25 season
