University of North Carolina Athletics
Sophomore Alyssa Ustby, pictured during the team's Late Night scrimmage, has been named to the Miller Award Watch List.
Ustby Named To Miller Award Watch List
October 27, 2021 | Women's Basketball
UNC sophomore Alyssa Ustby has been named to the watch list for the 2022 Cheryl Miller Award, which recognizes the nation's top small forward. Ustby is one of 20 players named to the preseason list.
Ustby, from Rochester, Minn., started 17 games for the Tar Heels last season and played in all 24, averaging 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Named to the 2021 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Team, she is one of four players from the ACC included on the preseason watch list.
"This is such deserving preseason recognition for Alyssa," UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. "She was incredibly impactful on both sides of the ball last year and over 94 feet. Lys is such a joy to coach. She has grown her game in the offseason and is as driven as ever to compete alongside her teammates this season, wherever is needed."
The Cheryl Miller Award honors the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
"The student-athletes named to the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year watchlist have worked tremendously hard and should be proud of all they have achieved," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Cheryl has long been recognized as one of the greatest athletes to ever play our game after an absolutely dominant career at USC and winning a pair of NCAA Championships. We are very much looking forward to working with her alongside our own selection committee in evaluating talent throughout the 2021-22 season."
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2022 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February to just five. In March the five finalists will be presented to Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee where a winner will be selected.
The winner of the 2022 Cheryl Miller Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award include Ashley Joens, Iowa State (2021), Satou Sabally, Oregon (2020), Bridget Carleton, Iowa State (2019) and Gabby Williams, Connecticut (2018).
Other ACC players on this year's list are Taylor Soule from Boston College, Elizabeth Balogun from Duke and Emily Engstler from Louisville, all seniors.
2022 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award Candidates*
Sam Thomas (Arizona)
Taylor Soule (Boston College)
Elizabeth Balogun (Duke)
Grace Berger (Indiana)
Ashley Jones (Iowa State)
Rhyne Howard (Kentucky)
Emily Engstler (Louisville)
Laura Van Kleunen (Marquette)
Chloe Bibby (Maryland)
Rickea Jackson (Mississippi St.)
Alyssa Ustby (North Carolina)
Erica Johnson (Ohio)
Madi Williams (Oklahoma)
Andra Espinoza-Hunter (Seton Hall)
Myah Selland (South Dakota State)
Haley Jones (Stanford)
Mia Davis (Temple)
Rae Burrell (Tennessee)
Kayla Wells (Texas A&M)
Vivian Gray (Texas Tech)
* Candidates can play their way onto or off the list at any point in the 2021-22 season
Ustby, from Rochester, Minn., started 17 games for the Tar Heels last season and played in all 24, averaging 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Named to the 2021 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Team, she is one of four players from the ACC included on the preseason watch list.
"This is such deserving preseason recognition for Alyssa," UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. "She was incredibly impactful on both sides of the ball last year and over 94 feet. Lys is such a joy to coach. She has grown her game in the offseason and is as driven as ever to compete alongside her teammates this season, wherever is needed."
The Cheryl Miller Award honors the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
"The student-athletes named to the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year watchlist have worked tremendously hard and should be proud of all they have achieved," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Cheryl has long been recognized as one of the greatest athletes to ever play our game after an absolutely dominant career at USC and winning a pair of NCAA Championships. We are very much looking forward to working with her alongside our own selection committee in evaluating talent throughout the 2021-22 season."
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2022 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February to just five. In March the five finalists will be presented to Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee where a winner will be selected.
The winner of the 2022 Cheryl Miller Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award include Ashley Joens, Iowa State (2021), Satou Sabally, Oregon (2020), Bridget Carleton, Iowa State (2019) and Gabby Williams, Connecticut (2018).
Other ACC players on this year's list are Taylor Soule from Boston College, Elizabeth Balogun from Duke and Emily Engstler from Louisville, all seniors.
2022 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award Candidates*
Sam Thomas (Arizona)
Taylor Soule (Boston College)
Elizabeth Balogun (Duke)
Grace Berger (Indiana)
Ashley Jones (Iowa State)
Rhyne Howard (Kentucky)
Emily Engstler (Louisville)
Laura Van Kleunen (Marquette)
Chloe Bibby (Maryland)
Rickea Jackson (Mississippi St.)
Alyssa Ustby (North Carolina)
Erica Johnson (Ohio)
Madi Williams (Oklahoma)
Andra Espinoza-Hunter (Seton Hall)
Myah Selland (South Dakota State)
Haley Jones (Stanford)
Mia Davis (Temple)
Rae Burrell (Tennessee)
Kayla Wells (Texas A&M)
Vivian Gray (Texas Tech)
* Candidates can play their way onto or off the list at any point in the 2021-22 season
Players Mentioned
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