Kentucky sophomore Rhyne Howard will be the nation’s leading returning scorer at 24.1 points per game next season, one reason ESPN has rated her as the top player going into the 2020-21 season.
“She is clearly one of the elite players in the country and now the goal is to become the absolute best player in the entire country,” Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell said.Howard also average 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game last season. She shot 38.2 percent from 3-point range and made 84 3-pointers. She even blocked 29 shots.

Mitchell said Howard has to “pay attention to even the smallest details and stay committed to even more hard work” going into next season. Mitchell says she could raise her shooting percentage, cut down turnovers or add a few more rebounds per game.

“The good thing is Rhyne is never satisfied. That’s why she is great and among the top players in the nation coming back next year and rightfully a leading candidate for player of the year,” Mitchell said.

“I love that she wants to keep getting better. She wants to help us win SEC and national championships because she is very team driven. She knows when you have team success, individual success has a way of working itself out.”