Five members of KCKCC’s Jayhawk Conference champions earned post-season KJCCC Region VI honors – Player of the Year and first team selection Nija Collier (14), Coach of the Year Joe McKinstry and All-Region first team selection Kisi Young (20), second team selection Lillie Moore (5) and third teamer Lenaejha Evans (23). (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Headed by Player of the Year Nija Collier and Coach of the Year Joe McKinstry, five members of Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Jayhawk Conference champions earned Region VI Division II post-season honors.
Collier was joined on the All-Region first team by Kisa Young while Lillie Moore was named to the second team and freshman Lenaejha Evans to the third team in voting by conference coaches.
McKinstry directed the Blue Devils (28-4) to their first Jayhawk DII championship and the NJCAA Region VI DII championship and a berth in the national tournament in Harrison, Arkansas, March 19-23. The National Coach of the Year after leading KCKCC to the national championship in his first year of coaching in 2016, McKinstry will take a 101-31 career record into the national tournament.
Collier was an easy choice as Player of the Year. Twice the NJCAA National Player of the Week, she was named NJCCC Player of the Week an unprecedented six times.
The only player to rank in the top four statistical categories in the Jayhawk, Collier ranks second in scoring (17.2), rebounding (9.8) and field goal percentage (.598) and third in 3-point shooting accuracy (.398). A native of Roseville, Michigan, a Detroit suburb, she also has 20 double doubles this season and leads the team in steals (46) and blocked shots (51).
A 5-9 sophomore from Magnolia, Arkansas, Young led the Region VI in field goal percentage at 63.8 percent for the second year in a row and was third in rebounding with 8.4 a game. She also averaged 10.2 points and 2.1 assists a game. As a freshman, Young led the Blue Devils in scoring (14.4) and was second in rebounds (8.1).
Also from Magnolia, the 6-1 Moore ranked fourth in the conference in scoring (15.2) and rebounding (8.2) and fifth in field goal percentage (.544). Second in team steals (42) and blocked shots (40), also earned All-Region VI and All-Jayhawk Conference as a freshman
A freshman from Conway, South Carolina, Evans finished third in scoring (11.4) and led the Blue Devils with 99 assists, A starter in 28 games, Evans shot 50.2 percent from the field and averaged 4.1 rebounds from her guard position.
Highland’s Tiana Gipson was named Freshman of the Year and Labette sophomore Upe Atosu Defensive Player of the Year. Labette freshman Jessica Martin and Highland sophomores Stefania Chiziane and Janiya Davis joined Collier and Young on the first team.
Johnson County’s Paige Elston and Jaci Stowers, Hesston’s Essence Tolson and Atosu were named to the second team along with Moore while Evans was joined by Gipson, JCCC’s Nakayal Jackson Morris, Fort Scott’s Arkiarra Clark and Labette’s Kyla McIntosh on the third team.