Pitt women’s basketball senior forward Liatu King had a stellar regular season and received ACC Most Improved Player and All-ACC First Team honors for her efforts.
King excelled in Panthers head coach Tory Verdi‘s first year at the helm of the program. While she struggled with inconsistency under previous head coach Lance White, Verdi made her the focal point of the offense, allowing her to flourish, displaying her mid-range prowess and her strength in the paint on both sides of the court.
She scored 18.8 points and grabbed 10.4 rebounds per game, respectively, averaging a double-double per game. King has 18 double-doubles this season, the most in program history, and the first Panther to average a double-double since Jennifer Bruce in the 1983-84 season.
King also made 1.9 steals, 1.5 blocks and 1.8 assists per game, all career-highs, along with a sensational 52.6% shooting from the field, all career highs along with points and rebounding averages.
In the ACC, she ranked No. 2 in rebounds, No. 3 in blocks, No. 4 in field goal percentage, No. 5 in scoring and No. 7 in steals.
Liatu King is the first Pitt player to ever win a major ACC award with her Most Improved Player of the Year honor. She is the second player to make it onto an All-ACC team, with former guard Briana Kiesel making it onto the All-ACC First-Team in 2015.
Her 323 rebounds are the most ever for a Pitt senior, while her 583 points, 58 blocks and 46 steals all rank fifth most for a Pitt senior, respectively.
King also has one year left of college eligibility and the Panthers will greatly benefit next season if she chooses to stay and keep playing.
Pitt women’s basketball heads to the ACC Tournament this weekend as the No. 15 seed and will face No. 10 Georgia Tech on Wednesday at Greensboro Coliseum at 3:30 p.m. in the First Round.
Congratulations