McCray earns preseason honor from Big 12 coaches

Senior guard Danielle McCray has been named the 2009-10 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year. Big 12 coaches also voted Texas A&M’s Danielle Adams Preseason Newcomer of the Year and Baylor’s Brittney Griner as Preseason Freshman of the Year.

“This is an exciting honor for Danielle,” head coach Bonnie Henrickson said in a prepared statement. “Danielle has worked extremely hard on her game, and competing in the Big 12, the best conference in America, has really helped grow her game.”

McCray led the Jayhawks to the postseason WNIT championship game last year while posting 21.6 points and 7.7 rebounds, earning All-American and All-Big 12 honors. The Olathe native also won a gold medal with the USA Women’s University Games team.

“I am thrilled to earn this honor,” McCray said in a prepared statement. “My coaches and teammates push me hard each and every day in practice and without them I would not be in this position. I have a lot of respect for all of the players in our league, so I am really flattered to earn this award.”

McCray is the first Jayhawk to receive the honor since Tamecka Dixon was tabbed before the 1996-97 season.

— Edited by Lauren Cunningham