by Springfield, Mass. – University at Buffalo women’s basketball redshirt senior forward Summer Hemphill has been named to the Cheryl Miller Award watch list, as announced by the Basketball Hall of Fame on Wednesday afternoon.
Named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer, the annual award in its fourth year recognizes the top small forwards in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.
Hemphill is one of two Mid-American Conference players on the list. Erica Johnson from Ohio joins Hemphill from the MAC.
Hemphill returns to the floor after sitting out last season due to injury. She was a Second Team All-MAC selection as a junior after averaging career highs in points (14.5) and rebounds (10.3) while recording 13 double-doubles and 21 double-digit scoring games and then set the MAC Tournament record with 21 rebounds in a win over Ohio in the 2019 MAC Championship game. The Buffalo, NY native is currently tied for 10th on UB’s all-time rebounding list with 759 rebounds and is just 81 points away from becoming Buffalo’s 27th 1,000 point scorer. She is also looking to become just the second player in program history to record 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
“Cheryl Miller was an incredible basketball player in her era and to have our player be acknowledged as someone who represents her is an honor for our program and we are humbled by this recognition,” said Buffalo women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. “Summer is working hard to get back out on the court and be exactly who we know she can become, one of the best players in the country.”
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In early February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2021 Cheryl Miller Award will be narrowed to just 10. In early March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Miller and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee.
The winner of the 2021 Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award will be presented on Friday, April 9, 2021, 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.
For more information on the 2021 Cheryl Miller Award and the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #MillerAward on Twitter and Instagram.
