Month: April 2016
KCKCC basketball star Anderson to Missouri Western
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Perseverance has paid off for Kansas City Kansas Community College basketball star Erin Anderson.
Her basketball career in serious jeopardy because of two torn ACLs and two torn meniscus, Anderson’s career will continue this fall at Missouri Western University in St. Joseph. She is the first member of KCKCC’s national championship team to sign with a four-year university.
“It was just a better fit,” said Anderson who was recruited by several colleges including Missouri Southern and Newman University.
“Extremely deserving of a scholarship and the opportunity to play at a high level NCAA Division II school,” said KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry, who felt Anderson would have earned All-American honors had the Jayhawk Conference not adopted a policy of limiting the number of All-American nominations to three. “She’s as good or better than half the players on the All-American teams.
“She’s the epitome of a player to coach. You never have to question her commitment or effort, just great to have at practice. She has only one speed, fast, which has helped set her apart. She knows no other way than to play as hard as possible, offensively, defensively, rebounding, ball-handling, which is going to let her continue at the highest level of competition.”
A 2011 graduate of Edwardsville High School in suburban St. Louis, Anderson was sidelined twice in high school by injury. She was recruited out of high school by Southwestern Illinois only to suffer a second torn ACL that all but ended her playing career. However, in the spring of 2014 Blue Devil assistant coach Shaun Birki recruited Anderson and Cierra Gaines to enroll at KCKCC although they would redshirt that semester.
A first team All-American last year, Gaines and Anderson will be re-united next season as rivals. Gaines, who was on hand for Anderson’s signing, plays for Missouri Western rival Central Missouri.
In her first season, Anderson was selected the Blue Devils’ most valuable player. The team leader in steals with 3.0 per game, she averaged 7.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists and then followed up this season by leading the Blue Devils in scoring with 15.5 points a game while averaging 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.6 assists.
A first team All-Jayhawk and All-Region VI selection, Anderson was named to the NJCAA All-Tournament team after leading the Blue Devils in scoring in the national tourney.
Popular author Sister Souljah set to speak in front of 1,700 in KCK
Kansas City, Kan., Public Library will be the host of bestselling author Sister Souljah as part of the tour for her latest book, “A Moment of Silence: Midnight III.”
The event will take place Saturday, April 16, in the auditorium of Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kan. The event was originally scheduled to be held at the Main Library, but due to the phenomenal response in registrations, it was moved to accommodate more attendees.
Activist, educator, hip hop artist, and bestselling author Sister Souljah is best known for her autobiography, “No Disrespect,” and her novel, “The Coldest Winter Ever.” As a community activist, she participated in the anti-apartheid movement, organized rallies against racially motivated crimes, created the African Youth Survival Camp, and worked as the executive director of Daddy’s House Social Programs.
She is a graduate of Rutgers University and was also educated at Cornell University and University of Salamanca. More information about the event can be found at www.kckpl.org.
– From Kim Woolery, Kansas City, Kan., Public Library