UConn's Paige Bueckers leads trio of unanimous AP All-Americans

Paige Bueckers of UConn, JuJu Watkins of Southern California and UCLA's Lauren Betts earned unanimous Associated Press All-America honors on Wednesday.

Each player received votes on all 31 ballots cast.

Joining them on the first team were Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame, who was named on 29 ballots, and Madison Booker of Texas (14).

This is the third selection for Bueckers, who became just the 12th woman to accomplish that feat. She is averaging 19 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

Bueckers, a senior, has left her mark on the UConn and Big East record books.

She became the first player in Big East history to earn Most Outstanding Player in the conference tournament three times and the fourth to be named Player of the Year three times. Bueckers also reached 2,000 points faster than any player in the storied history of UConn, accomplishing that in 102 games.

Watkins and Hidalgo became just the third and fourth players in history to be named first-team All-Americans as both freshmen and sophomores, joining Maya Moore of UConn and Courtney Paris of Oklahoma.

Watkins averaged 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, with Hidalgo putting up numbers of 24.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

Betts, a force at both ends of the court, is the first AP first-team All-American in UCLA history. She is averaging 19.6 points and 9.7 rebounds, and has connected on 63.4 percent of her field-goal attempts.

Booker was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, a season after winning Big 12 Player of the Year in Texas' last year in that conference. She is averaging 16.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

The second-team All-America honorees are: Aneesah Morrow, LSU; Ta'Niya Latson, Florida State; Olivia Miles, Notre Dame; Sarah Strong, UConn; and Georgia Amoore, Kentucky.

The third team consists of: Hailey Van Lith, TCU; Kiki Iriafen, USC; Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt; Flau'Jae Johnson, LSU; and Audi Crooks, Iowa State.

Receiving honorable mention honors are: Raegan Beers, Oklahoma; Sonia Citron, Notre Dame; Katie Dinnebier, Drake; Joyce Edwards, South Carolina; Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga; MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina; Rori Harmon, Texas; Izzy Higginbottom, Arkansas; Aziaha James, North Carolina State; Lauren Jensen, Creighton; Taylor Jones, Texas; and Chloe Kitts, South Carolina,

Also: Ayoka Lee, Kansas State; Cotie McMahon, Ohio State; Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina; Sedona Prince, TCU; JJ Quinerly, West Virginia; Kiki Rice, UCLA; Shyanne Sellers, Maryland; Serena Sundell, Kansas State; Makayla Timpson, Florida State; Harmoni Turner, Harvard; and Mikayla Williams, LSU.

--Field Level Media