by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Two sophomores who helped Kansas City Kansas Community College win 52 basketball games over the past two seasons – guard Rashaun Casey and forward Iland Shurn – will be taking their skills to Peru State College in Peru, Neb., this fall.
“We expect them to make an immediate impact,” said head coach Joan Albury. “We expect Iland to help carry us in the post and Rashaun to put up shots from the outside.”
A 5-8 guard from Bentonville, Ark., Casey set a KCKCC record when she knocked down eight 3-point goals against Central Methodist JV last year.
Named to the All-Region VI second team as a freshman, Casey led the Blue Devils in scoring with a 13.8-point average. She also averaged 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals.
Playing behind All-American Cierra Gaines this past season, Casey averaged 6.1 points and 2.3 rebounds.
A 5-9 forward who graduated from Bishop Miege High School, Shurn led the Blue Devils in rebounding and shooting percentage as a freshman.
Averaging 7.0 rebounds a game and 8.5 points, she shot at a 51.0 percent clip from the field, then shot even better this past season (53.9 percent) while averaging 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds a game.
The only NAIA Division I college in Nebraska, Peru State is a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
“We’ll have 12 teams in the conference this year and 14 the next year, all in Iowa and Missouri,” Albury said.
With only one starter and three other non-starters returning, Albury said the two KCKCC standouts figure heavily in Peru State’s future plans.
“She said our experience and leadership coming from a winning program should provide a huge impact for the team,” Shurn said.
Both Casey and Shurn said a visit to the Peru State campus was a major factor in their recruitment.
“The coaching staff was also real nice,” Casey said. “They said if I came in and worked hard I’d get a lot of playing time.”
Shurn said she was looking forward to playing in a smaller community after growing up in Raytown, Mo.
“It suits my personality,” she said. “I’m not that outgoing so I’m looking forward to it.”
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.