Shea Ralph says Khamil Pierre of Vanderbilt women's basketball snubbed from All-SEC awards
On Monday evening, Shea Ralph and the Vanderbilt women's basketball program took to social media to express their disappointment.
"My staff and I are extremely disappointed that Khamil didn't receive any All-SEC honors," Ralph said in a statement. "She is having an All-SEC type season and is putting up numbers that are among the best in the nation.
"In the SEC she ranks No. 4 in points per game, No. 4 in points, No. 3 in rebounds, No. 2 in double-doubles this season, No. 2 in steals per game, No. 2 in steals, No. 1 in field goals made. She is the only player in our league to rank in the top four in seven categories.
"Our team would not be as successful this season without her incredible contributions all year.
"With that being said, we know she is one of the best players in the country. We don't need awards or recognition from outside of our program to validate Khamil's talent. We know how amazing she is on and off the court. We know her value to the program and to our league."
Pierre scored 42 points in a game against Evansville in December, which was at the time Vanderbilt's single-game scoring record, later broken twice by her teammate Mikayla Blakes, the SEC Freshman of the Year.
During SEC play, Pierre scored in double digits in all but one game and had five double-doubles.
The Commodores (21-9) begin play at the SEC tournament in Greenville, S.C. on Thursday. They are the No. 8 seed and will take on either No. 9 seed Tennessee or No. 16 seed Texas A&M in their opening game.
During her media availability Tuesday, Ralph said: "I'm excited for (Pierre) to have a great conference tournament so that she can show what she's capable of, that she can show that she is an All-SEC player, whether or not she won those award."
BRACKETOLOGY Where Vanderbilt women's basketball ranks in latest March Madness bracketology
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Shea Ralph releases statement saying Khamil Pierre was All-SEC snub
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