by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Janai Mitchell, one of Kansas City Kansas Community College’s most productive players over the past two years, will continue her basketball playing career at Friends University in Wichita.
“I think she’ll be a great player in that program and in that league,” said KCKCC coach Valerie Stambersky. “She was a great player in our program and I’m very happy for her.”
A 5-11 forward from Salina South, Mitchell started 15 games as a freshman, averaging 9.2 points and 6.7 rebounds.
A full-time starter this season, Mitchell averaged 8.4 points and 4.9 rebounds and led the Lady Blue Devils in both field goal percentage (.555) and free throw percentage , where she had outstanding 81.0 percent accuracy. The Blue Devils won 52 games in her two seasons, finishing 24-8 her freshman season and 28-4 this year.
Mitchell said she chose Friends after a recruiting visit there.
“Everyone was so welcoming; I really felt comfortable on and off the court,” Mitchell said. “Once I played with some of the players I felt I’d fit right in. They said I was the post they were looking for, the missing piece of their recruiting puzzle.”
“Janai has a lot of basketball skills,” Stambersky said. “She’s able to play with her back to the basket and finish with either the left or right hand and has quick hands and can guard on the perimeter. Very instinctive, she’s got a great basketball IQ and obviously is a great free throw shooter.”
A member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, Friends compiled a 21-12 record this past season.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director for KCKCC.