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Incoming Freshman Kiki Rice Named Naismith High School Player of Year

by uclabruins.com
Mar 4, 2022
Kiki Rice

Incoming UCLA freshman Kiki Rice was awarded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club the 2022 Jersey Mike's Naismith High School Trophy for Girls Player of the Year.

Rice, a 5-11 point guard at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC, is the first UCLA women's basketball signee ever to win the National Player of the Year award and the fourth Bruin winner. She joins Lonzo Ball (2016), Shabazz Muhammad (2012) and Kevin Love (2007), who won on the boys' side. Rice has averaged 16 points, 5.2 assists, 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game this season. The McDonald's All-American is the No. 2-ranked player and No. 1-ranked point guard in espnW's Class of 2022. She is a two-time gold medalist with USA Basketball and earned District of Columbia Player of the Year honors in both basketball and soccer. She averaged 18.8 points per game at the Nike Girls EYBL last summer.

Rice is part of UCLA's top-ranked recruiting class that also includes #19-ranked Gabriela Jaquez (6-0 forward), #22-ranked Londynn Jones (5-5 point guard), #49-ranked Christeen Iwuala (6-3 forward), and German standout Lina Sontag.

"This is an amazing honor for a special player," said The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close. "As great of a player Kiki is, though, it's her character that makes her incredible. She is a game-changer in more areas than just basketball, and we are excited to see her achieve her dreams."

The Jersey Mike's Naismith High School Trophy for Player of the Year was first presented in 1987, and the winners are selected by a group of basketball journalists from around the country who form the Naismith Awards national high school voting academy. The selections were based on outstanding performances during the 2021-22 high school basketball season.

For more information, visit www.naismithtrophy.com.

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