The Southeastern Conference wrapped up its regular season this past weekend, with the coaches of the league voting on postseason awards, which were announced on Tuesday — two Longhorns were among those recognized.
Junior forward Madison Booker, last season’s SEC Player of the Year, earned first-team All-SEC honors.
Even when she isn’t leading in scoring, Booker is filling up the stat sheet. She is averaging 18.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 50.7% from the field.
Booker has scored more than 20 points in 13 games this season. Although she did not repeat as SEC Player of the Year — the award went to Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes — Booker said there are no hard feelings towards her Team USA teammate because, according to Booker, Blakes deserved the award “fair and square.”
While winning championships remains the priority over individual awards and conference honors are nothing new to Booker, she’s still appreciative of the recognition, viewing it as a reflection of not only her dedication and hard work, but that of her coaches and teammates as well.
“It’s definitely a big appreciation for it because you could fall off at any point in time,” Booker said. “It’s just appreciation to my coaches that they’re putting (in) hard work. I’m putting in hard work for them, too. Appreciation to my teammates that put me in the position to even get these awards.”
Graduate point guard Rori Harmon earned second-team All-SEC honors and All-Defensive Team recognition. The floor general has had a historic final season, breaking the program’s all-time assists and steals records.
Harmon has been an integral part of the team’s chemistry and efficiency, running the offense, disrupting opponents and serving as a leader on and off the court. In many ways, she is an extension of head coach Vic Schaefer.
“Rori Harmon is simply the best point guard I’ve ever coached in 41 years in this industry,” Texas head coach Vic Schaefer said. “She is generational. They just don’t make them like her. There is no other player in the country that defends like Rori Harmon from baseline to baseline and then comes down and runs her team and is responsible for everyone on the offensive end as well. And then you’d better not take your eye off her because she will make you pay.”
The Longhorns begin SEC tournament play this Friday against either Missouri, Alabama or Tennessee on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
