Texas senior center Imani Boyette could create history for the women’s basketball program before she leaves the forty acres.
Boyette needs 59 more rebounds to record at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 blocked shots. She would be the first in Texas women’s basketball history with that accomplishment.
Currently, Boyette has recorded 1,245 points, 941 rebounds and 277 blocked shots. As a senior, she is averaging 12.6 points per game, 9.9 rebounds and 3.4 blocks. Boyette has played in all 23 games, recording a total of 12 double-doubles. She has earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors three times this season.
The Los Angeles native enrolled at Texas as the third-ranked post recruit and 11th overall recruit from the 2012 class according to ESPN.com. As a senior in high school, she averaged 9.7 points per game and 10 rebounds. Boyette won a state championship her junior year of high school, scoring 18 points and grabbing 19 boards in the championship game. She left high school as a McDonald’s All-American.
Basketball runs in Boyette’s blood. Her mother, Pamela McGee, won two national championships at USC, played in the WNBA and owns a gold medal for the 1984 Olympics. Boyette’s cousin Annette Smith-Knight played at Texas under Jody Conradt, winning the 1986 national championship. JaVale McGee is Boyette’s brother who plays in the NBA for the Dallas Mavericks.
When Boyette first arrived at Texas, she immediately made a name for herself. Boyette played in all 30 games, finishing the year with 13 double-doubles. She recorded a total of 75 blocks, setting a new record for Texas freshman. Boyette earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year and was a six-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week. She also was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team and Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
As a sophomore, Boyette played in 33 games. She led Texas in blocked shots with 72 and scoring during Big 12 play with 206 total points. Boyette earned All-Big 12 Second Team honoree.
Boyette’s junior year started out rocky. She missed the first eight games of the season because of an injury to her left leg. Boyette recovered and played in 27 games. For the third straight year, she led Texas in total blocked shots with 52. Boyette finished the season with All-Big 12 First Team honors and Big 12 All-Tournament honoree.
This past December Boyette’s named appeared on the Naismith Trophy early-season watch list. The only Longhorn to win the women’s trophy was Clarissa Davis in 1987 and 1989. A midseason cut was made to the list on Feb. 10, but Boyette’s name still remained. Thirty other players accompany Boyette on the midseason list from the original 50.
With six regular season games left, Boyette has the chance to reset Texas’ record book.
