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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic secured a spot on the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List, the Naismith Awards announced on Thursday.
Bostic was one of 20 power forwards nationally and one of only four Big Ten student-athletes to be recognized on the preseason watch list.
Named to the McClain Award watch list for the first time in her career, Bostic enters her fourth and final season with the Fighting Illini after averaging a double-double – 12.1 points and 10.9 rebounds – during her career-best 2023-24 campaign. She also registered 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks while starting all 34 games for the Orange and Blue.
An All-Big Ten and WBIT All-Tournament Team selection, Bostic led the Big Ten in rebounds per game for the third consecutive season. She also took massive strides as a 3-point threat, going a career-high 40.9% from beyond the arc, and she shot 60.5% from the field and 82.5% from the free throw line.
Since joining the Illini ahead of the 2021-22 season, Bostic has made 93 consecutive starts. She has also posted 34 career double-doubles, and she has totaled over 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
Awarded the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor last season, Bostic was a CSC Academic All-District, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Academic All-Big Ten, and Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree following the 2023-24 slate.
Bostic is the third Illinois student-athlete to earn a spot on one of the Naismith Starting 5 Awards’ preseason watch lists this week. Makira Cook was named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Top-20 Preseason Watch List on Monday, while Genesis Bryant was included on the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award Top-20 Watch List on Tuesday.
Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award watch list will be narrowed down to 10 nominees in late January, while five finalists will be revealed in late March.
2024-25 Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award Candidates*
Kiki Iriafen
USC
Skylar Vann
Oklahoma
Yvonne Ejim
Gonzaga
Addy Brown
Iowa State
Aaliyah Moore
Texas
Emma Ronsiek
Colorado State
Janiah Barker
UCLA
Jenna Johnson
Utah
Sania Feagin
South Carolina
Kendall Bostic
Illinois
Makayla Timpson
Florida State
Laura Ziegler
Saint Joseph’s
Aneesah Morrow
LSU
Liatu King
Notre Dame
Olivia Cochran
Louisville
DeYona Gaston
Auburn
Liza Karlen
Notre Dame
Morgan Maly
Creighton
Maddy Westbeld
Notre Dame
Mir McLean
Maryland
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point during the 2024-25 season.
