ATLANTA (March 7, 2018) – Shayla Bennett of Gulf Coast State College is the 2018 WBCA Two-Year College Player of the Year and headlines the 2018 WBCA Two-Year College Coaches’ All-America team, announced today by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
Bennett is currently averaging 20.5 points, 2.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game and led the Commodores to a 23-2 regular-season record. She leads the Panhandle Conference and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 8 in scoring. Bennett was named NJCAA Region 8 Player of the Week on Jan. 30, 2018.
The WBCA presents the Player of the Year award annually to the top player in five of the six WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions II, and III, NAIA, junior/community college and high school). The Player of the Year and the 10-member Coaches’ All-America team in each division are selected by a committee of WBCA member coaches in that division. The Wade Trophy is presented to the best player in NCAA Division I.
“The WBCA is pleased to name Shayla Bennett as the 2018 WBCA Two-Year College Player of the Year,” said Danielle Donehew, executive director of the WBCA. “Bennett has played an integral role in guiding her team to an extraordinary season and is very deserving of this distinguished honor. The WBCA applauds Shayla for her hard work, dedication and contributions to the game during the 2017-18 season.”
Here are the 2018 WBCA Two-Year College Coaches’ All-Americans:
Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
Esther Adenike |
South Georgia Technical College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Shayla Bennett |
Gulf Coast State College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Tran Brown |
Northwest Kansas Technical College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Mariane Caravalho |
Highland Community College (KS) |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Sierra Green |
Monroe Community College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Victoria Johnson |
Hinds Community College |
Freshman |
Guard |
Natasha Mack |
Angelina College |
Freshman |
Center |
Lanay Rodney |
Monroe Community College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Jade Thurmon |
Kilgore College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Dai'Shona Washington Polk |
Owens Community College |
Freshman |
Guard |
“The 10 members of the 2018 WBCA Two-Year College Coaches’ All-America Team are deserving of this recognition, and the WBCA congratulates them for their accomplishments this season,” said Donehew. “These young women have worked to elevate themselves and their teams to an elite level and through their exceptional talents on the basketball court, they have lifted the women’s game.”
Here are the student-athletes who received 2018 WBCA Two-Year College Coaches’ All-America honorable mention:
Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
Ganette Chism |
Miami-Dade College |
Freshman |
Guard |
Savannah Clark |
Miami-Dade College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Rachel Dumoulin |
Elgin Community College |
Freshman |
Guard/Forward |
Jhileiya Dunlap |
Gulf Coast State College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Anisha George |
Moberly Area Community College |
Sophomore |
Center |
Tia Hay |
Salt Lake Community College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Katherin Ihnen |
Minnesota West Community & Technical College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Doris Jones |
Diablo Valley College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Bri Moore |
Sierra College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Jade Mosier |
Lake Michigan College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Jacqulynn Nakai |
Pima Community College |
Freshman |
Guard |
Brenda Pennington |
Owens Community College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Cheah Rael-Whitsitt |
Miami-Dade College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Brooke Reynolds |
Central Maine Community College |
Junior |
Forward |
Jaynelle Robinson |
Monroe Community College |
Sophomore |
Center |
Kasey Smit |
Irvine Valley College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Alexis Tolefree |
Jones County Junior College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
Jon'Nae Vermillion |
Mt. San Antonio College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
Angelica Wiggins |
Moberly Area Community College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit www.WBCA.org for more details about the Association.
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