Mikayla Blakes: 5-Time All-American, Leads Vandy in NCAA

0:00On March 18, Vanderbilt Guard Michaela Blakes earned first team all-American honors from the Associated Press on March 18. This marks her fifth such first team nod this poll season, including picks from the US Basketball Writers Association, ESPN, the Athletic, and the A, Sporting News. She's the first Commodore in 23 years to land on the AP's top team, following Chantelle Anderson's streak from 2000 to 2000. Blakes also grabbed second team AP honors last year, making her one of just two Vanderbilt players with multiple selections from the group. Her breakout sophomore season turned heads nationwide, as she led all of Division 1 with 27 points per game over 31 contests. She added 4.4 assists and 2.9 steals while hitting 45.8% from the field. No one else matched her combo of at least 4 assists, nearly 3 steals and almost 3 made 3s per game, and she topped the charts with 12-30 plus point outings.

1:04Earlier this month, Blakes picked up SEC Player of the Year and first team all SEC nods, plus spots on the Wooden Award Ballad and as a finalist for. Several national awards. Meanwhile, her coach Shay Ralph was named National Coach of the Year by the US Basketball Writers Association. Vanderbilt, the number 2 seed, hosts number 15, high point in the NCAA Tournament Opener and Memorial Gym on March 21st with Blakes, leading the charge into March Madness. Made in AI.