HOPEWELL, N.J. – Missouri State junior forward Jasmine Franklin was named Wednesday to the preseason watch list for the 2021 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award presented by Her Hoop Stats.

A first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference selection last year and preseason pick this season, Franklin averaged 10.9 points and an MVC-leading 8.7 rebounds per contest in 2019-20 while also ranking among the Valley's top 10 and leading the Lady Bears with 34 blocks, 48 steals and a .563 field goal percentage as a two-time MVC Player of the Week.

The second player in school history to reach 500 career rebounds as a sophomore, the Fayetteville, Ark., native had the 11th-highest defensive rebounding rate in the nation last season and ranked in the top 10% nationally in steals and blocks according to advanced metrics provided by Her Hoop Stats

Franklin and the 24th-ranked Lady Bears begin the season Nov. 27 at Florida Gulf Coast.

About the Award
The Becky Hammon award was first given out in 2020 to the top college player competing in one of the 26 conferences deemed to be "mid-major." The following conferences are considered high-major for the purposes of this award, and thus ineligible: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC. In January, 15 players will be named to the midseason watch list. The 10 semifinalists will be announced in February, with five finalists being announced in early March. The winner will be announced in late March. The list is fluid and players may play their way on or off the list over the course of the season.

About Becky Hammon
Hammon was a three-time All-American during her career at Colorado State and led the Rams to the Sweet 16 in 1999, the program's only appearance to date. She was signed by the New York Liberty in 1999 and traded to the San Antonio Stars in 2007, where she played the rest of her career. Hammon retired in 2014 as a six-time All-Star and a two-time All-WNBA First Team honoree. In 2016 she was named one of the top 20 players in WNBA history. Hammon became the second female coach in NBA history when she began coaching for the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. Additionally, Hammon is the only woman to be a head coach in the NBA Summer League as well as the only woman to be a member of an NBA All-Star coaching staff.

About Her Hoop Stats
Her Hoop Stats was founded in 2017 to unlock better insight about women's basketball at all levels. The statistics-focused website focuses on providing consistent, reliable and easy-to-access data about women's basketball. Her Hoop Stats has expanded to become a leading independent voice in the women's game providing content through its newsletter, podcast and social media platforms.