Gustin named to Katrina McClain Preseason Top-20 Watch List

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — BYU forward Lauren Gustin was named to the 2024 Katrina McClain Preseason Top-20 Watch List by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) on Thursday morning.

“I am super proud of Lauren for all she accomplished last season, and she is very deserving of this preseason honor,” said BYU head coach Amber Whiting. “Lauren has been a rock for this team ever since she stepped on campus, starting in every game she has played in, and she has become the leader this team needed as we take on a new challenge in the Big 12 conference.”

Gustin had a 2022-23 season for the record books. Last season, she led all NCAA divisions, men’s or women’s, by grabbing 16.7 rebounds per contest en route to being named the 2023 West Coast Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year and an All-WCC First Team honoree. 

The senior finished second in the country in total rebounds (552) behind only LSU’s Angel Reese, who played in three more games. Her 552 rebounds bested the all-time BYU record of 462 set by BYU Hall of Famer and 1980 National Player of the Year Tina Gunn and is the third-best mark in the history of NCAA women's basketball.

With a 30-point outing at Santa Clara on Feb. 16^th last season, Gustin joined Gunn as the second player in Cougar history to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career. Gustin also recorded 27 double-doubles during her junior campaign, the second most in the country which matched Gunn’s BYU record of 27 double-doubles during the 1979-80 season in which she was named the National Player of the Year.

Gustin now leads the Cougars into the Big 12 which had six of 10 teams make NCAA Tournament appearances a year ago. BYU will open its 2023-24 campaign with an exhibition against Westminster College on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. MDT.