by Alan Hoskins
Kansas City Kansas Community College sophomore Cheyenne North is the NJCAA National Division II Player of the Week.
A 5-11 forward from Gallatin, Tenn., North averaged 19.5 points and shot 60.7 percent from the field in leading the unbeaten Blue Devils to road wins at North Central Missouri 79-68 and North Arkansas 86-61.
“Very deserving,” said KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry. “Cheyenne is an extremely talented and versatile player who can impact a game in a variety of ways. Much of our success his will this season will be because of what Cheyenne brings to our team.”
North was also named Jayhawk Conference Division II Player of the Week, the second straight week a Blue Devil was chosen for the honor. Sophomore guard Erin Anderson was selected for the first week.
Playing in her first game this season, North posted career highs of 24 points and 15 rebounds and tied the KCKCC record for blocked shots with nine at North Central. She then followed it up with 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots at North Arkansas.
As a freshman last year, North led the Lady Blue Devils in rebounding (7.9) and was second in scoring (11.5) behind All-American Cierra Gaines.
A graduate of Camp Station High School in Gallatin, North was ranked the 10th best high school player in Tennessee after averaging 20.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 2.0 blocked shots a game.
She was also ranked by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report as the 36th best point guard in the nation. North originally signed with Belmont University, an NCAA Division I university, but then transferred to KCKCC from Central Florida Community College.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.