NJCAA Player of Year chooses NCAA DII power Central Missouri over DI non-contenders
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
By nature, Nija Collier is not a greedy person – until it comes to national championships.
Leading Kansas City Kansas Community College to the 2019 NJCAA DII national basketball championship was not enough for the 6-foot sophomore who was named NJCAA DII National Player of the Year.
Turning down several offers from NCAA Division I colleges and universities, Collier committed to the University of Central Missouri (UCM) “to be in position to win a national championship again at a top Division II school rather than a lower Division I school.”
Few if any DII schools offer a better opportunity to win on a consistent basis than the Jennies of UCM. In the 36 years of women’s basketball, Central Missouri has had only two losing seasons. The 2018 national champions, the Jennies also won the national title in 1984 and have been to the national tournament nine times. Huge fan favorites in Warrensburg, the Jennies had one of their worst seasons (14-14) in 2006-2007 and still ranked 10th in the nation in attendance.
Central Missouri also made it possible for Collier to play immediately – something the Division I schools could not do.
“UCM really helped me out; they were the only one to do that,” Collier said. “Otherwise I would have had to come back to KCKCC to finish my credits. All I need is to take a science class. That was a blessing; they were waiting for me.”
In Collier, Central Missouri is getting the national and Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year plus her teammate, 5-9 guard Camryn Swanson.
“Everyone was super nice,” Collier said of their visit. “It was such a nice atmosphere. Everyone was smiling and happy to see us. It made us feel like we were already at home.”
The team leader in scoring (17.3), rebounds (9.7) and blocked shots, Collier shot 58.5 percent from the field.
The fact that Swanson, is also going to UCM was yet another factor in Collier’s decision.
“I’m real happy; she’s my best friend,” Collier said. “She has the same goal as I have, win a national championship.”
Their timing is also excellent. The Jennies graduate both of their top 3-point shooters, All-American Paige Redmond and Sydney Crockett, and both Collier and Swanson are outstanding in that department.
Collier was a 40 percent shooter from 3-point this season while Swanson’s 87 threes are an all-time KCKCC best. Ranked 23rd nationally this past season, UCM finished 27-5 after being eliminated from the DII tournament on a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining.
Her ability to shoot from distance made Collier especially attractive during her visit to UCM.
“They had me playing the 4 and 5 positions when we started but there were people stronger than me so I think I’ll play the 3 or 4 because I can shoot and I can drive, not just one thing,” Collier said.
A vicious rebounder, Collier goes after missed shots with a vengeance.
“Sometimes I go up too soft but the second time I go up stronger and rip the ball down,” she said.
Collier’s goal coming out of high school was to play DI and she had her chances. Three DI schools right out of her back yard of the Detroit area offered – Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan along with Illinois State, Indiana State, Murray State and Delaware State.
“I got a lot of DI looks and could have gone D1 but when I stepped back I think this (UCM) is the best for me,” Collier said. “I know a lot of people were disappointed by my family and friends support me and that really matters. It means a lot.”