Izoje Named One of ESPN's Top Breakout Candidates
7/28/2026 11:21:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Syracuse women's basketball rising sophomore center Uche Izoje has been named one of the 10 players nationally with the most breakout potential heading into the 2026-27 season, according to ESPN's "100 Days" preview released this week.
Izoje, who enters her second season in Orange after a historic freshman campaign, joins a group of rising stars ESPN believes could push their way into the national spotlight this winter. The outlet pointed to her ACC Rookie of the Year campaign as evidence that even more national acclaim could be on the horizon.
Izoje's rookie season ranks among the most decorated in program history. The 6-foot-3 native of Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria, started all 33 games and finished the year averaging 15.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor. She was named ACC Rookie of the Year and earned All-ACC First Team, All-ACC Defensive Team, All-ACC Freshman Team and All-ACC Tournament Second Team honors, in addition to being tabbed a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention — the ninth player in program history to earn All-America recognition.
She was also named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist, became the first Syracuse player to earn USBWA National Freshman of the Week, claimed ACC Rookie of the Week a conference-best eight times, and was later honored as Syracuse Athletics' Female Rookie of the Year at the annual 'Cuse Awards.
Izoje set single-season program freshman records for points (514) and rebounds (303), while her 85 total blocks ranked first in the ACC and fourth nationally. She finished the season ranked in the ACC's top 10 in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage.
Izoje, who enters her second season in Orange after a historic freshman campaign, joins a group of rising stars ESPN believes could push their way into the national spotlight this winter. The outlet pointed to her ACC Rookie of the Year campaign as evidence that even more national acclaim could be on the horizon.
Izoje's rookie season ranks among the most decorated in program history. The 6-foot-3 native of Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria, started all 33 games and finished the year averaging 15.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor. She was named ACC Rookie of the Year and earned All-ACC First Team, All-ACC Defensive Team, All-ACC Freshman Team and All-ACC Tournament Second Team honors, in addition to being tabbed a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention — the ninth player in program history to earn All-America recognition.
She was also named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist, became the first Syracuse player to earn USBWA National Freshman of the Week, claimed ACC Rookie of the Week a conference-best eight times, and was later honored as Syracuse Athletics' Female Rookie of the Year at the annual 'Cuse Awards.
Izoje set single-season program freshman records for points (514) and rebounds (303), while her 85 total blocks ranked first in the ACC and fourth nationally. She finished the season ranked in the ACC's top 10 in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage.
Izoje elected to return to Syracuse for her sophomore season after evaluating her options this offseason, a decision head coach Felisha Legette-Jack called foundational to the program's trajectory.
With a full season of ACC experience now behind her, Izoje enters the 2026-27 campaign as one of the league's most productive two-way threats in the paint — and, per ESPN, one of the sport's most-watched breakout candidates.
Fans won't want to miss a second of Izoje's sophomore campaign. Tickets for the upcoming 2026-27 season are on sale now and can be purchased online by visiting cuse.com/tickets.
For more on the Orange, follow @CuseWBB on social media.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's BasketballTuesday, March 24
Monday, March 23
Monday, March 23
Monday, March 23
