KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee women’s basketball standout Rickea Jackson has been selected as the TSWA Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year in the state, the Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced on Wednesday.
Jackson is the third player to earn the accolade as a Lady Vol, following in the footsteps of 2021 winner Rennia Davis and 2008 honoree Candace Parker. Destinee Wells, who now plays at UT, won the award in 2022 and 2023 as a Belmont Bruin before transferring to Rocky Top.
A 6-foot-2 forward, Jackson averaged 20.2 ppg. and 8.2 rpg. in 2023-24 to lead the SEC in scoring with the ninth-best single-season average in UT history. She earned AP/USBWA/WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, All-SEC First Team and Cheryl Miller Award finalist distinction before being selected No. 4 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
She is one of only six Lady Vols to average 20+ points in a season along with Patricia Roberts (29.9), Chamique Holdsclaw (23.5, 21.3, 20.6), Cindy Brogdon (21.7, 20.1), Candace Parker (21.3) and Bridgette Gordon (20.8, 20.4).
During the NCAA Tournament, Jackson averaged 29.5 ppg. and 9.5 rpg. and shot 63.9 percent on field goals, 50 percent on threes and 91.7 percent on free throws. She produced 25.0 ppg., 10.0 rpg. and 3.2 apg. while hitting 46.5 percent vs. six ranked opponents.
Jackson overcame an early season leg injury to score in double figures 24 times in 25 games, including 13 occasions with 20 or more points and two of those above 30. The number of 20+ efforts increased her two-year total on Rocky Top to 29, which ranks as the fifth-best ever by a Lady Vol behind only program legends Chamique Holdsclaw (83), Bridgette Gordon (58), Candace Parker (48) and Tamika Catchings (37). All of those players except Parker (three) spent four seasons at Tennessee.
Her 19.6 ppg. career average at UT ranks fourth all-time behind Patricia Roberts (29.9, 1976-77), Cindy Brogdon (20.8, 1977-79) and Chamique Holdsclaw (20.4, 1995-99), and just ahead of Candace Parker (19.4).
Now a four-time All-America honorable mention selection, three-time All-SEC performer and two-time Cheryl Miller Award finalist, Jackson became the 46th Lady Vol taken in all WNBA Drafts and the 44th in drafts featuring only college players. She became the 21st Lady Vol taken in the first round (19th in college-only drafts) and gave UT first-round picks in four consecutive drafts for the first time in the program’s rich history.
Jackson tallied 1,176 points in only 60 games at UT, ranking No. 35 on a UT all-time scorer’s list that primarily features players who spent three or four seasons in Knoxville. Her 19.6 career average finished at No. 4 among Lady Vols, winding up behind only Patricia Roberts (29.9), Cindy Brogdon (20.8) and Chamique Holdsclaw (20.4) while finishing just ahead of Candace Parker and Jill Rankin (19.2).
For career point production, she generated 2,261 in 127 collegiate contests, ranking sixth among anyone who played at UT, including transfers. In 2023-24, she passed Tamika Catchings (2,113) and Candace Parker (2,137) and finished behind only Cindy Brogdon (3,204), Chamique Holdsclaw (3,025), Jill Rankin (2,851), Bridgette Gordon (2,462) and Patricia Roberts (2,447).
