OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – For the 22nd consecutive year, 14 under three-time National Coach of the Year Ben Conrad, Johnson County Community College women's basketball enters a season as a ranked team. This year, the Lady Cavaliers are ranked second in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll, and is the No 1 ranked team according World Exposure Report.
Under Conrad's direction, Johnson County has opened a season as a top-10 ranked team in 13 of his 14 seasons, and as a top-5 team 10 times.
Lake Land College, who defeated JCCC in the National Championship game last April, is the preseason NJCAA No. 1 team. Rounding out the top-five are Kirkwood Community College, Illinois Central College and Kansas Jayhawk Conference rival Labette Community College.
JCCC tops the World Exposure Report Preseason Poll is followed by CCBC Essex, Iowa Western Community College, Labette Community College and Morton College.
Conrad returns nine players from last seasons' 22-2 team that finished runner-up in the NJCAA D-II National Tournament. Two of those returnees are NJCAA D-II first-team All-American and National Player of the Year guard Jaylen Townsend, and third-team All-American forward LaJahda Boyland. Also back are all-conference and all-region guard Gabby Fuller and NJCAA D-II All-Tournament selection, guard Kierra Prim.
Among the newcomers Conrad brought in is sophomore transfer guard Shonyah Hawkins from Grand Rapids Community College. She was a second-team NJCAA D-II All-American and was selected the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Western Conference Player of the Year.
The Lady Cavaliers open the 2021-22 season at home on Monday, November 1 against Bethany College JV at 5:30 p.m.