Basketball superstar and Virgin Islands native (St. Thomas, USVI) Aliyah Boston. Photo Credit: SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The U.S. Virgin Islands’ Aliyah Boston is now the record holder for the most double-doubles in the history of South Carolina Women’s Basketball.
The 21-year-old senior forward, anticipated to be No.1 pick in the 2023 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft, had 13 points and 14 rebounds on Sunday when the South Carolina Gamecocks, on a 20-game winning streak, defeated Arkansas 92-46.
Her latest double-double, the 73rd in her career, eclipsed Sheila Foster's record of 72 double-doubles, set in 1982.
Ms. Boston, a native of St. Thomas, told ESPN sports reporters that breaking a record that previously stood for forty years was a highlight of her burgeoning basketball career.
“I mean it's really special, cause you know coming in that wasn’t really my goal, I didn’t even know that there was a record for it and so to be able to break it, especially on the home floor, it’s just a blessing from God,” she said.
The star athlete's impressive 2022-23 season stats include starting in all 20 of the games she has played. Boston has averaged just over 24 minutes per game and 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.5 steals, 2.0 blocks and 1.4 turnovers per game.
In 2022, Ms. Boston led the Gamecocks to their second national championship in history and was named the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Most Outstanding Player.
She was also named Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.
For three consecutive years, Ms. Boston has also won the Lisa Leslie Award for best center in the NCAA women's basketball.
Last June, the USVI government honored Ms. Boston, in recognition of her hard work, with a large billboard installed at the entrance of the Cyril E. King Airport. The signage, bearing Ms. Boston's name and likeness, welcomes guests coming in and thanks those leaving the island for visiting.
A parade was also held in her honor with hundreds of Virgin Islanders waving and cheering her on.
In March 2022, ProSolar, which describes itself as the territory’s leading residential and commercial solar power provider, announced a historic partnership with Ms. Boston, which recognizes both her tremendous accomplishments as a player and her roots in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was the first endorsement of Boston by a local company, ProSolar noted at the time.
