24-year-old Rhyne Howard won her first Olympic medal in Paris at the 3×3 Women’s Basketball event. However, a bronze didn’t really please most fans. While Team USA had a tough start to the event, they managed to earn a medal, which was commendable. Especially considering the team was full of first-time Olympians. Nonetheless, Howard shined in Paris and many would know that the international stage has suited her from quite early on.

Before becoming the No.1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Howard had already represented her country in various competitions as a Kentucky Wildcat. Let’s have a look at her college journey.

Rhyne Howard’s journey with the Kentucky Wildcats

Howard had promising talent from her high school days itself. Playing for Tennessee’s Bradley Central High School, she claimed Gatorade Player of the Year in 2018. Having an impressive basketball resume quite early on, Howard chose Kentucky as the destination to further her skill set.

With 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game, Howard proved her efficiency in her freshman season. The accolades that she brought as a freshman are proof of the impact she made. SEC Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press, WBCA National Freshman of the Year, and USBWA National Freshman of the Year were just some of the many accolades she claimed. The best was yet to come from the Chattanooga native, though.

If her freshman season at Kentucky was the start of a new saga of Rhyne Howard’s basketball career, her sophomore year was the finest chapter. Not only did she boast her college career’s best stat line with 23.4 PPG, but Howard also displayed proficiency on both ends of the court with 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.

Apart from this, Howard’s player efficiency rating also peaked at 39.5 during her sophomore year. Not only did Howard make it to the 2020 SEC All-Defensive Team, but also claimed the season’s SEC Player of the Year by league coaches title. Yet another visibly evident highlight of the 2x WNBA All-Star’s college career became her consistency throughout her run with the Wildcats.

More than anything else, the stat-line by the end of her college career speaks volumes about this consistency. Notably, Howard closed her college basketball career with averages of 20.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1 block per game over 4 years. And by this time, the future Dream star had managed more accolades to her name.

Some of these included SEC Tournament MVP, Senior CLASS Award Finalist, and 6x SEC Player of the Week. Apart from this, she also claimed international achievements like gold at the FIBA U19 World Cup and 2021 FIBA AmeriCup during her college days. No wonder that she was the first overall pick in the 2022 WNBA draft.

Howard maintained a connection with college basketball even after WNBA debut

It seems that the Dream star had her interest deeply rooted in the college basketball scenario. This would explain Rhyne Howard taking up a job in the coaching staff of Florida Gators even after her WNBA debut. As per the official website of the Florida Gators, Howard was appointed as an Assistant Coach and Director of Player Personnel in 2023.

As per an official release, the former Wildcats star termed the move as a full-circle moment. She mentioned in the release that her mother was a Gator herself and she too had occasionally been there. “But to actually be able to wear the orange and blue, I know it’s making her (mother) proud. I know it’s making everyone who thought I was originally going to be a Florida Gator proud,” read the official release.

Meanwhile, Gators’ head coach for the women’s team, Kelly Rae Finley, explained the move to have stemmed from her own desire to surround her athletes with people who can help them with the skills necessary to succeed as professionals. She further mentioned Howard as a humble, competitive, thoughtful, and driven athlete, already living many students’ dreams. “Her knowledge of the game, combined with her ability to teach and connect with them on and off the court, will elevate our program,” Finley said.

And even Rhyne Howard herself believed the opportunity was something she could have easily passed up on. As per an article by Olympics.com, the focus for Howard was to set a good example for Florida students. And in turn, even the Dream star got the opportunity to learn to be a better leader. “It’s just a win-win, so it’s good to help the next generation,” stated the article. So it’s clear that the college basketball scenario played a crucial role in Howard’s life. Whether it be before the WNBA debut or after it.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.