A’ja Wilson makes history with third SEC Player of the Year award

South Carolina women’s basketball star A’ja Wilson has been named SEC Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, becoming the first player in conference history to earn the award that many times.

Wilson averaged 22.9 points and 3.3 blocks per game this season, leading the SEC in both categories, and 12.0 rebounds per contest, tied for second most in the league. She also ranked fifth in the SEC with a 54.8 field goal percentage and was second in the conference in free throws made.

She was also the co-defensive player of the year.

Wilson missed three games this year due to injury, most recently sitting out the Gamecocks’ regular season finale against Tennessee this past Sunday due to a bout of vertigo, the team said.

However, that has not stopped her from continuing to rake in recognitions and awards — in addition to being honored by both the league’s 14 head coaches and the Associated Press on Tuesday, Wilson was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy, given to the national player of the year, on Monday.

As conference player of the year, Wilson also earned her fourth straight All-SEC first team honor from both the league’s coaches and the AP, and she was also named to the SEC All-Defensive team for the third straight season.

Point guard Tyasha Harris also garnered second team All-SEC recognition, as the sophomore led the conference with 6.3 assists per game, 1.6 more than her closest competitor. Harris also averaged 2.4 steals per game, tied for second in the SEC, and 11.2 points per game.

Freshman guard Bianca Jackson was also named to the SEC All-Freshman team after starting 18 games and averaging 7.2 points per contest. Jackson also shot 39.8 percent on 3-pointers, tops among all SEC freshman who averaged at least two attempts per game.

2018 SEC Awards (Coaches)

Coach of the Year: Vic Schaefer, Mississippi State

Player of the Year: A’ja Wilson, South Carolina

Freshman of the Year: Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M

Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State; A’ja Wilson, South Carolina

6th Woman of the Year: Anastasia Hayes, Tennessee

Scholar-Athletes of the Year: Blair Schaefer, Mississippi State; Haley Clark, Georgia; Alyssa Rice, Kentucky

All-SEC First Team (Coaches)

Raigyne Louis, LSU

Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State

Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State

Sophie Cunningham, Missouri

A’ja Wilson, South Carolina

Jamie Nared, Tennessee

Mercedes Russell, Tennessee

Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M

All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)

Caliya Robinson, Georgia

Mackenzie Engram, Georgia

Chloe Jackson, LSU

Maci Morris, Kentucky

Morgan William, Mississippi State

Jordan Frericks, Missouri

Tyasha Harris, South Carolina

Khaalia Hillsman, Texas A&M

All-Defensive Team (Coaches)

Daisa Alexander, Auburn

Caliya Robinson, Georgia

Taylor Murray, Kentucky

Raigyne Louis, LSU

Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State

Blair Schaefer, Mississippi State

A’ja Wilson, South Carolina

2018 SEC All-Freshman Team (Coaches)

Unique Thompson, Auburn

Que Morrison, Georgia

Promise Taylor, Ole Miss

Bianca Jackson, South Carolina

Rennia Davis, Tennessee

Evina Westbrook, Tennessee

Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M

Chelsie Hall, Vanderbilt

2018 SEC Awards (AP)

Coach of the Year: Vic Schaefer, Mississippi State

Player of the Year: A’ja Wilson, South Carolina

Newcomer of the Year: Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M

2018 All-SEC First Team (AP)

Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State

Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State

Sophie Cunningham, Missouri

A’ja Wilson, South Carolina

Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M

2018 All-SEC Second Team (AP)

Caliya Robinson, Georgia

Chloe Jackson, LSU

Tyasha Harris, South Carolina

Jamie Nared, Tennessee

Mercedes Russell, Tennessee

This story was originally published February 27, 2018 at 11:05 AM with the headline "A’ja Wilson makes history with third SEC Player of the Year award."