by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Nija Collier has done it yet again – a fifth KJCCC Player of the Week award for the Kansas City Kansas Community College sophomore from Detroit’s Chandler Park High School.
Playing in three games in Week 14, Collier’s performance was highlighted by 25 points and 14 rebounds in a 69-64 win over nationally ranked Johnson County. A 6-0 forward, Collier scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the second half as the Blue Devils won at JCCC for only the second time in more than 20 years.
For the week, Collier averaged 20.3 points and 10.6 rebounds although playing only 11 minutes in a 124-37 win over Hesston. Knocking down 5-of-14 three-pointers, she shot 58.3 percent from the field and made 14-of-18 free throws. She now has 19 double-doubles on the season.
The only player in the Jayhawk Conference to rank in all four top offensive categories, Collier is second in scoring (17.3), rebounding (10.1) and field goal percentage (.611) and third in 3-point accuracy (.405).
With 501 points this season, she becomes only the 12th KCKCC player to score 500 or more points in a season. Teammate Lillie Moore was also a KJCCC Player of the Week recipient.
A two-time selection as NJCAA National Player of the Week, Collier nationally ranks eighth in offensive rebounds, 13th in total rebounds, ninth in average points per minutes played and 10th in field goal percentage.