Liatu King Named All-ACC First Team & ACC Most Improved Player
3/5/2024 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Senior forward Liatu King received a pair of postseason honors as she was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) First Team and Most Improved Player, as announced on the ACC Network's PM Show on Tuesday afternoon.
King is the first player in program history to earn one of the major ACC awards while becoming just the second Panther in program history to be named All-ACC First Team, joining Brianna Kiesel in 2015.
The 6-0 forward is enjoying the best season of her Pitt career and was rewarded with all-conference recognition for the first time. She has posted career-highs in all categories including scoring (18.8 ppg), rebounding (10.4 rpg), steals (1.9 spg), assists (1.8 apg), blocks (1.5 bpg), field goal percentage (52.6%) and double-doubles (18).
King is the only player in the nation this season averaging at least 18.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game and one of two players in the past 15 seasons in the ACC to post those season averages (Dearica Hamby, Wake Forest – 2013-14).
She is also one of two players in the nation this season with season total of at least 58 steals, 56 assists and 46 blocks (Angel Reese, LSU) while also being one of two ACC players across the last 15 seasons to post those totals in a single season (Emily Engstler, Louisville – 2021-22).
On the season, King has scored in double figures in 29 of 31 games while scoring at least 15 points in 24 games and netting 20+ in a career-high 11 contests. She has racked up an ACC-high 19 games with 10+ rebounds while also grabbing at least 14 rebounds in an ACC-best 10 games so far this season. Her 18 double-doubles are the most in a single season in program history while also ranking second most in the ACC and seventh most in the NCAA this season.
She is the first Panther since Jennifer Bruce in 1983-84 to average a double-double for the season while averaging the most points per game by a Pitt player since Shavonte Zellous in 2008-09 (22.6 ppg). Her 10.4 rebounds per game are also the most in a season by a Panther since Chelsea Cole averaged 11.3 rpg in 2009-10.
One of the most improved players in the nation this season, King has made major strides in all major categories from last season to this season including points per game average from 9.4 ppg to 18.8 ppg (+9.4 ppg), rebounds per game from 7.6 rpg to 10.4 rpg (+2.8 rpg), field goal percentage from 39.4% to 52.6% (+13.2%), total steals from 34 to 58 (+24) and double-doubles from five to 18 (+13).
For her career, she has racked up 1,153 points which ranks 14th in program history while her 824 career rebounds are the ninth most by a Panther in program history. She has totaled 27 career double-doubles (all points + rebounds) which ranks second among Pitt players across the last 40 seasons (Marcedes Walker – 51).
The All-ACC Teams were voted on the league's 15 head coaches and Blue Ribbon Panel.
2023-24 All-ACC Women's Basketball Team
Player of the Year: Elizabeth Kitley, Gr., C, Virginia Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah Hidalgo, Fr., G, Notre Dame
Rookie of the Year: Hannah Hidalgo, G, Notre Dame
Coach of the Year: Felisha Legette-Jack, Syracuse
Sixth Player of the Year: Oluchi Okananwa, Fr., G, Duke
Most Improved Player: Liatu King, Sr., F, Pitt
All-ACC First Team
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech
Ta'Niya Latson, Florida State
Deja Kelly, North Carolina
Aziaha James, NC State
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Makayla Timpson, Florida State
Liatu King, Pitt
All-ACC Second Team
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame
Amari Robinson, Clemson
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
Alyssa Ustby, North Carolina
Kiki Jefferson, Louisville
Kymora Johnson, Virginia
Tonie Morgan, Georgia Tech
Kara Dunn, Georgia Tech
Reigan Richardson, Duke
Olivia Cochran Louisville
All-Defensive Team
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Makayla Timpson, Florida State
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Saniya Rivers, NC State
Dontavia Waggoner, Boston College
All-Freshman Team
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Kymora Johnson, Virginia
Zoe Brooks, NC State
Oluchi Okananwa, Duke
Alyssa Latham, Syracuse
