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Former women’s basketball star joins Ring of Honor

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Rebecca Sasnett 2013

Rebecca Marie Sasnett/ The Daily Wildcat

Former UA womens basketball guard Davellyn Whyte waves to the audience after the revealing of her name in the “Ring of Honor” at the McKale Memorial Center on Sunday. Whyte made UA history as the 2nd player to have more than 2,000 points by the end of her UA basketball career.

Former Arizona women’s basketball standout player Davellyn Whyte was inducted into Arizona’s Ring of Honor on Sunday, joining Adia Barnes (1995-98), Shawntinice Polk (2001-05) and Dee Dee Wheeler (2002-05).

“When you think about it, she accomplished an awful lot,” UA head coach Niya Butts said. “There were only three other names up their previously, in term of women’s basketball. Anytime you can walk into an arena and see your name and your number hanging, that says a lot about what you did and how much people respect what you did.”

Taking a gander at the UA women’s basketball record books shows just how significant her accomplishments were. Whyte finished her Arizona career among the top 10 in program history for several key statistical categories. She is second in points with 2,059, second in steals with 266, eighth in assists with 431, fourth in free throws made with 671 and ninth in rebounding average at 5.5 rebounds per game.

Those stats don’t include some of her other accomplishments, such as becoming the first player in program history to record a triple-double, playing the most minutes in program history (4,243) and starting the most games in program history (126).

“Like you said, there are only three names up there, so that explains itself,” Whyte said. “I feel like I came in here and did what I wanted to do, and I gave my all to Arizona. I feel like I’m being rewarded for it.”

Despite only playing on one winning team and making the postseason once in her four years at UA, Whyte has maintained the program in a high light. Her success as a Wildcat has also translated into a career in the WNBA.

By being drafted 16th overall in the 2013 WNBA draft by the San Antonio Silver Stars, Whyte became the highest drafted Wildcat ever. She went on to play 29 games in her rookie season while putting up per game averages of 4.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

However, a partially torn Achilles tendon sidelined Whyte through the end of her rookie season.

“I haven’t had any setbacks or anything like that,” Whyte said. “I have a high pain tolerance, so rehab was okay for me. The hardest thing for me is getting back in shape. I haven’t really been out of shape for a while. I’ve been rehabbing here in McKale.”

On the night Whyte was honored, the Wildcats lost yet another close game at the hands of the USC Trojans. This marks the fourth consecutive loss to open 2014. However, as she was during her playing days, Whyte was still the main attraction.

“The overall goal is you just want to be remembered,” Whyte said. “With that being said, I came in here and knew I had to do something so that people can remember me. I think being in the Ring of Honor, people will remember me.”

Follow Roberto Payne @HouseOfPayne555

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