SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Lara Rohkohl was named to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Preseason Watchlists, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Friday.
Rohkohl is one of two Big 12 players on the Top-20 Watchlist and is joined by Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Audi Crooks.
| 2026 Naismith Starting 5 - Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List | |
| Name | School |
| Lara Rohkohl | BYU |
| Sakima Walker | Cal |
| Audi Crooks | Iowa State |
| Clara Strack | Kentucky |
| Laura Ziegler | Louisville |
| Kate Koval | LSU |
| Ra Shaya Kyle | Miami |
| Ashley Sofilkanich | Michigan |
| Tilda Trygger | NC State |
| Megan Nestor | North Texas |
| Raegan Beers | Oklahoma |
| Gracie Merkle | Penn State |
| Madina Okot | South Carolina |
| Brooklyn Meyer | South Dakota State |
| Kennedy Umeh | Stanford |
| Breya Cunningham | Texas |
| Lauren Ware | Texas A&M |
| Lauren Betts | UCLA |
| Serah Williams | UConn |
| Aalyah Del Rosario | Vanderbilt |
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point during the 2025-26 season
Rohkohl helped Charleston to a 25-8 record and the second round of the WNIT during her junior season. Rohkohl was the third-leading scorer and highest-scoring forward at 10.1 points per game on an efficient 64.4 percent clip from the field.
The senior transfer also led the Cougars in rebounding with 9.2 rebounds, 4.5 of which came on the offensive glass. Rohkohl's 4.5 offensive boards per game was the sixth-highest mark in Division I.
Rohkohl recorded 10 double-doubles and 17 double-figure scoring performances during the 2024-25 season, including two games in which she scored 22 and 23 points, respectively. The Hanover, Germany native also recorded 28 games with five or more rebounds, 14 games with 10 or more boards, 10 games with three or more blocks and seven games with over three steals.
Rohkohl and BYU open the 2025-26 campaign on Wednesday, Nov. 5, as Coastal Carolina visits the Marriott Center. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Cougars and Chanticleers in women's basketball. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast live on BYU Radio 107.9, byuradio.org and the BYU Radio App.
About the Lisa Leslie Award
The Lisa Leslie Award, now in its ninth year, recognizes the top centers in Division I women’s college basketball. It is named after the three-time All-American, 1994 National Player of the Year, and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting today, Friday, October 31. In early February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in early March, to just five. Later in March, the five finalists will be presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Awards is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2026 Lisa Leslie Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward), and the Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward).