Ayoka Lee named to Naismith Player of the Year Midseason Team

Ayoka Lee is adding another trophy to her trophy case. Lee has been named to the Naismith Player of the Year Midseason Team for the second time in her career. She was named to the team back in 2022 when she was just a sophomore.

Lee has been out for almost a month now with an ankle injury that she had surgery on in early January. Lee's diagnosis was that she would be out for a month, so it seems a comeback is on the horizon for the Wildcats at a time when they could use her most.

Even with being out with the ankle injury, Lee is still ranked third in scoring, sixth in rebounding, first in field goal percentage, and second in blocks in the Big 12. Lee is one of the top, if not the top player in the Big 12 all while missing four or more weeks in the season.

The Minnesota native has been named to multiple watch lists this season, most notably being named a Wooden Award finalist just a few weeks ago. The Wooden Award will most likely go to Caitlin Clark of Iowa, but Lee was making quite the case for the award before her injury.

While it is uncertain when exactly Lee will make her return, she has been seen without a boot on her foot, which is most likely good news. Lee should be back in time to play the last few regular season games with the Wildcats before the Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament starts. Right now Kansas State is ranked seventh in the AP Top 25 rankings and is at this point pretty much a lock for the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.