ATLANTA (March 15, 2017) – Taylor Emeryof Gulf Coast State Collegeis the 2017 WBCA Junior/Community College Player of the Year and headlines the 2017 WBCA Junior/Community College Coaches’ All-America team, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
Emery averaged 18.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game to help lead the Commodores to a 27-2 regular-season record. She was named National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Player of the Week on November 8, 2016.
The WBCA presents the Player of the Year award annually to the top player in each 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 WBCA is pleased to name Taylor Emery as the 2017 WBCA Junior/Community College Player of the Year,” said Danielle Donehew, executive director of the WBCA. “Taylor has played an integral role in guiding her team to an extraordinary season, and is very deserving of this distinguished honor. The WBCA applauds Taylor for her hard work, dedication and contributions to the game during the 2016-17 season.”
Here are the 2017 WBCA Junior/Community College Coaches’ All-Americans:
|
Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
|
Naomi Davenport |
Trinity Valley Community College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
|
Taylor Emery |
Gulf Coast State College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
|
Japonica James |
Tallahassee Community College |
Freshman |
Forward |
|
Tierra McGowan |
Rock Valley College |
Sophomore |
Center |
|
Velma Mitchell |
McLennan Community College |
Freshman |
Guard |
|
Jeryn Reese |
Owens Community College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
|
Lanay Rodney |
Monroe Community College |
Freshman |
Forward |
|
Blaysen Varnadoe |
Santa Ana College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
|
Szonja Vukov |
Highland Community College (KS) |
Sophomore |
Guard, Forward |
|
Lawriell Wilson |
Tallahassee Community College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
“The 10 members of the 2017 WBCA Junior/Community College Coaches’ All-America Team are well deserving of this recognition, and the WBCA congratulates them for their accomplishments this season,” said Danielle Donehew, executive director of the WBCA. “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 2017 WBCA Junior/Community College Coaches’ All-America honorable mention:
|
Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
|
Cesaria Ambrosio |
Redlands Community College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
|
Shayla Bennett |
Gulf Coast State College |
Freshman |
Guard |
|
Ariel Bethea |
Owens Community College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
|
Tran Brown |
Northwest Kansas Technical College |
Freshman |
Guard |
|
Sierra Green |
Monroe Community College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
|
Empress James |
Miami-Dade College |
Sophomore |
Forward, Center |
|
Juliet James |
Northwest Kansas Technical College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
|
Averyale Joy |
Northwest Miss Community College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
|
Christalah Lyons |
Trinity Valley Community College |
Sophomore |
Guard |
|
La’Neique Nealey |
Angelina College |
Sophomore |
Forward |
|
Rachel Slaney |
Madison College |
Sophomore |
Guard, Forward |
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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