ACC Rookie of the Year Uche Izoje to return for 2nd season at Syracuse
Syracuse center and reigning ACC Rookie of the Year Uche Izoje will return for her sophomore season, the university announced Friday. Tara Deluca | Asst. Photo Editor
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Uche Izoje is returning for her sophomore season at Syracuse, the university announced Friday. Izoje was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year and led the Orange in points (15.6), rebounds (9.2) and blocks (2.6) per game this season.
“Uche is the foundation of our program,” SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack said in a press release. “Uche re-committing to Syracuse University and to me shows that what we are building is amazing.”
The Orange are fresh off a 24-9 season, which culminated in a NCAA Tournament Second Round exit. Izoje was the anchor of the Syracuse defense while she swiftly became one of the nation’s best post scorers.
“Our coaching staff, especially Coach Jack, has been amazing and I know they will prepare me for the next level,” Izoje said in the release. “I am grateful for this team, and I wouldn’t want to go through this with anyone else.”
After SU’s second round loss to UConn, Izoje said she had “not yet decided” about her future but would “very soon.” She added that, in the offseason, she wants to improve her jump shot and her physicality to come back stronger and faster.
Initially, it was uncertain whether she’d be displaying that at Syracuse or somewhere else. She’d be a coveted piece in the front court for just about every team in the country.
Retaining Izoje was one of SU’s top priorities over the offseason. The last time the Orange had an ACC Rookie of the Year — Kamilla Cardoso — she left after Year 1 and set SU back.
With Sophie Burrows expected to be back and Dominique Darius in the process of applying for another year of eligibility, Izoje’s return solidifies Syracuse’s foundation.
