Rutgers women’s basketball signs JUCO All-American Awa Sidibe

The Rutgers women’s basketball team continued to add to its roster on Monday, as the program announced the signing of junior college All-American Awa Sidibe.

The 5’11” guard was the two-time Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Year for Salt Lake Community College in Utah. In 21 games this past season, Sidibe averaged 17.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.4 steals in 27.8 minutes per game. She led Salt Lake to an eighth consecutive SWAC regular season title. Expect Sidibe to receive additional honors as the season just concluded.

Sidibe was named a NJCAA Second Team All-American and WBCA NJCAA Player of the Year after her freshman season in which she averaged 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.5 assists in 24.7 minutes per game. She led Salt Lake to a Region 18 Championship and was named Tournament MVP. Off the court, Sidibe perfomed at a high level academically, making the Deans List.

Following the departures of the top five scorers from last season’s NCAA Tournament team, including guards Diamond Johnson and Zippy Broughton, Rutgers has now added Sidibe along with Arkansas transfer Jailyn Mason to the backcourt, who committed last week. Head coach C. Vivian Stringer, who signed a five year extension last week, will likely continue to search the transfer portal and JUCO ranks for additional help.

Rutgers does return starting forward Tyia Singleton, who averaged 6.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 18 games this past season. Expect freshmen Liz Martino and Sakima Walker from the heralded top ten 2020 recruiting class to make bigger impacts after playing around 10 minutes per game this past season. The other members of that heralded class, Chyna Cornwell and Erica Lafayette, saw limited action but are in line for bigger roles next season as well.

Update: Rutgers secured a commitment from Ball State transfer Oshlynn Brown on Tuesday night. Click here to read more.