Our top five from the 2018-19 season. Here we go:
Kamiah Smalls, JMU: One staple of the JMU program that transferred when Sean O’Regan took over the helm from Kenny Brooks — player development. The 5-10 wing player has improved each of the last three seasons. The Pennsylvanian averaged 9 ppg as a frosh and 15 ppg as a sophomore. Now she’s at 16.6 and the Dukes’ go-to. Her 3-point shooting was shaky a year ago (28 percent); JMU’s leading scorer is 40.4 percent from behind the arc, kudos to her offseason work ethic. She’s the engine behind this JMU team that’s 25-4 and the top seed in next week’s CAA Tournament. Yes, the wrist injury she suffered in the first half against Delaware on Saturday scares us, but we wait with our fingers crossed for an update. The preseason CAA Player of the Year, who will almost surely pick up the real accolade this week, is the state’s best in our book.
Tayler Emery, Virginia Tech: Who would argue with first-team All-ACC? The 5-10 guard senior guard is the third leading scorer in the nation’s top league behind two of the most elite players in the game in Louisville’s Asia Durr and Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale. Her 35 points against Clemson in the conference tournament was the fourth highest tally in ACC Tournament history. Also an All-Academic selection, Emery averages 18.7 ppg and shoots 85.6 percent from the FT line. We only wish the Hokies could keep her around another season.
Ashley Bates, Hampton: She’s not overly tall or athletic, but the 5-7 junior guard, who scored a career-best 34 against Winthrop on Saturday, has this uncanny ability to be involved in every play behind a work ethic any All-American would envy. Wanna talk improvement? A year ago, Bates averaged 9.3 ppg and 2.2 steals; now she’s the leading scorer in the Big South behind 17.1 ppg. Her 122 steals thus far are the most in conference history.
Nicole Cardaño-Hillary, George Mason: We thought not having Natalie Butler might affect Cardaño-Hillary’s production. Guess what? The sophomore from Madrid won A10 player-of-the year honors, averaging a league-best 20.4 ppg. Looking forward to two more years of this Patriot, the league’s top rookie last year.
Bianca Boggs, William and Mary: The senior quietly put together one of the best seasons in program history and is 34 points shy of the Tribe’s single-season scoring record. The 5-8 guard ranks fourth in the CAA in scoring (16.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.9 ppg), second in steals (2.4) and fifth in assists (4.3). Boggs is also the conference leader in defensive rebounding. No kid has done more for her team than this geology major from Maryland.