No. 1 ranking, two national titles put target on Blue Devils’ back
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College begins defense Friday of its 2019 NJCAA national championship ranked No. 1 in Division II – but with just one returnee from last year’s title team.
The Lady Blue Devils will host Graceland junior varsity in the opener Friday at 6 p.m. and then entertain St. Louis Community College Saturday at 4 p.m. St. Louis received votes in the NJCAA DII pre-season poll.
The No. 1 national ranking is KCKCC’s first ever but it comes with being the target of all 22 teams on the 2019-2020 schedule – if competing in far and away the toughest NJCAA DII conference in the nation wasn’t enough. And that’s never going to change. Four Jayhawk Conference teams are ranked in the Top 12.
“We’ll have everyone gunning for us which I think is a little unfair to this group,” said head coach Joe McKinstry, the architect of the 2016 and 2019 national championships. “We’ve talked to our players about it. We found out what it’s like three years ago. But with so many young players, I’m not sure they’re really able to grasp the challenges we’ll be facing.”
Brodi Byrd, a 5-5 shooting guard from Truman High School, is the lone returning veteran. Vaulting into the starting lineup at mid-season, Byrd averaged 8.9 points with 76 3-point goals, the fourth most in a single season.
“One rock I can count on on a daily basis,” McKinstry said. “She’s the most consistent player on a daily basis that I’ve ever had. She comes to work, supports her teammates. I never have to question that she’s here to get better.”
McKinstry was supposed to have one more, 5-10 guard/forward combo Caroline Hoppock from Olathe East. Hoppock played in all 36 games last season, averaging 7.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Her eight 3-point goals in a single game tied the KCKCC record. An injury suffered in a pre-season exhibition will sideline her for an indefinite number of games.
“She finally had a full pre-season and got herself in the best shape ever which helped make her a more complete player only to have the injury set her back,” McKinstry said. “Hopefully she’s able to get back sooner rather than later. She deserves it.”
Carson Chandler, a 5-8 guard from Sarcoxie, Missouri, joined the team the second semester, averaging 1.9 points in 14 games but she is out for the season with a leg injury that requires surgery. Also back is Diamond Williams, a 5-4 guard from Detroit who sat out last season with a pre-season knee injury.
“One of the best defensive players I’ve coached,” McKinstry said.
A position-by-position look at KCKCC’s young squad.
Point guard – Sophomore Destiny Zamudio, a 5-5 transfer from Malcolm X in Chicago, and 5-5 freshman Adoreya Williams, one of three recruits from Detroit’s Mumford High School.
“Both are fantastic ball handlers who can create for themselves and others off the dribble,” McKinstry said.
Shooting guards – A trio of freshmen will join Byrd and Diamond Williams at the Blue Devils’ deepest position, 5-7 Aliyah Myers of Derby, 5-6 Jada Mayberry of Kapaun-Mt. Carmel and 5-6 Tiaira Earnest of Detroit Mumford.
“All bring great qualities that can help our team immediately,” McKinstry said. “I especially like the speed and athleticism of this group.”
Hybrid guards/forwards – Without Hoppock and Chandler, three freshmen will have to carry the load, 5-10 Anija Frazier of Lee’s Summit North, 5-9 Alieyya Jones of Lincoln, Nebraska, and 5-11 Mercer Roberts of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
“All have the ability to handle the ball and shoot it from the perimeter,” McKinstry said. “And they’ll be counted on defensively and for rebounding.”
Post – Kamryn Estell, a 6-1 freshman from Belton, will be joined by 6-1 Shanea Dinwiddie of Detroit Mumford the second semester.
“Kamryn will be counted on a lot,” McKinstry said. “She’s a very strong presence inside, great rebounder and help-side defender. A strong post player, Dinwiddie will give us added depth. A strong post player, she has a good shooting touch.”
With a lack of size, the Blue Devils will have a new look offensively – four guards and a post.
“Our bigger guards will play forward.” McKinstry said. “Size certainly helps in rebounding but its more effort and energy. I think this team has a lot of talent and ability but knowing and understanding how to direct that ability is going to be our first challenge for sure. We do have certain pieces that we didn’t have a year ago that can really make a difference.”
Last year, the Blue Devils averaged 89.1 points and 48.3 rebounds. Only 16.3 percent of the scoring and 8.1 percent of the rebounding is back this year, season-long statistics not easily replaced.
“We’re trying to find ourselves identity-wise, especially offensively,” said McKinstry, who is being assisted for the third season by former KU standout Timeka O’Neal. “It may take a while for our offense to click and get going. Hopefully our defense will give us some easy opportunities to score or at least keep us in the game while the offense develops.”
By time Jayhawk Conference play rolls along, the Blue Devils will need it. In the last six years, Johnson County, Highland and KCKCC have all been in the semifinals or finals of the national tournament on two occasions. The last couple of years, Labette has joined the trio in the Top 10 national rankings.
“I think this team has a very high ceiling,” McKinstry said. “It will be fun to watch them grow.”
Kansas City Kansas Community College
2019-2020 Women’s Basketball Schedule
Fri., Nov. 1 GRACELAND JV, Home 6 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 2 ST. LOUIS CC, Home 4 p.m.
Tues., Nov. 5 Washburn JV, Away 5:30 p.m.
Kirkwood Classic (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Fri., Nov. 8 Southeastern Iowa 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 9 Kirkwood 3 p.m.
Tues., Nov. 12 PARK JV, Home 6 p.m.
Keith Lindsey Classic (KCKCC)
Fri., Nov. 15 SOUTHWEST IOWA 6 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 16 N. CENTRAL MISSOURI 4 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 20 Metropolitan CC, Away 5 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 22 William Penn JV, Away 6 p.m.
Thur., Dec. 5 WASHBURN JV, Home 6 p.m.
S.E. Nebraska Classic (Beatrice)
Fri., Dec. 6 Central Nebraska 2 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 7 Southeast Nebraska 4 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 11 Southwestern Iowa, Away 5:30 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 15 S.E. Illinois (St. Louis) 11 a.m.
Thur., Jan. 9 S.E. NEBRASKA, Home 4 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 11 METROPOLITAN, Home 6 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 15 Missouri Southern JV, Away 5:30 p.m.
Fri., Jan 17 Park University JV, Away 5 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 18 N. Central Missouri, Away 2 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 22 Labette*, Away 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 25 HESSTON*, Home 2 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 29 Fort Scott*, Away 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 1 Highland*, Away 2 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 5 JOHNSON COUNTY*, Home 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 8 LABETTE*, Home 2 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 12 Hesston*, Away 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 15 FORT SCOTT*, Home 2 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 19 HIGHLAND*, Home 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 22 Johnson County*, Away 2 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 26 Region VI Playoffs TBA