OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference announced the results of the 2022-23 Women's Basketball All-Conference Team for Division II and the individual award winners earlier this week. These awards and teams are voted on by the league's head coaches.
Three members of the Johnson County Community College women's program earned all-conference recognition. Sophomore guard Mackenzie Hart and Nariyah Simmons were selected as first-team performers. Sophomore guard Lisa Thomas was a second-team selection. Additionally, Hart was voted as the Most Valuable Player, becoming sixth player in team history to be selected MVP, and it marks the third straight year a JCCC players as taken home the MVP trophy.
These three have helped lead Johnson County to a 32-1 record, a No. 4 national ranking, conference and district championships and a berth to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.
Hart is averaging 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steal per game. She is shooting 46.3 percent from the field, 39.3 percent from 3-point range and 82.8 percent at the free throw line. Hart ranks second in the conference in scoring average, second in 3-point field goal accuracy, third in made 3-point field goals (55), fourth in total assists (117), fifth in assists per game and fifth in field goal accuracy. She has scored in double figures 25 times and was the team's leading scorer in 10 games. During the season, Hart was selected as the KJCCC D-II Player of the Week four times, earning the honor in weeks three, seven, 11 and 14.
An all-conference and all-district selection last year, Hart is averaging 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals over her career. Her 285 total assists currently rank her eighth all-time.
Simmons leads the team and conference in scoring average at 15.9 points per game. She also averages 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals. Simmons also leads the team and conference with 59 made 3-point baskets, and ranks third in 3-point field goal accuracy (35.5%). She has scored in double figures in 26 games, most on the team, and has been JCCC top scorer in 12 games. Simmons was also selected as the KJCCC D-II Player of the Week four times, earning the honor in weeks two, six, 10 and 13.
Last season Simmons also earned all-conference and all-district accolades along with being selected as both the Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year. For her career, she is averaging 12. 5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals. Simmons has tallied 788 career points, 102 made 3-point baskets, 255 rebounds, 122 assists and 103 steals. She is currently tied for 24th in career points and 16th in made 3-pointers.
Over their two seasons, Hart and Simmons have helped the program to a 66-3 record, two conference title, two region/district titles, two national tournament appearances and a fifth place finish in 2022.
Thomas is averaging 11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals and his shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 72.8 percent at the free throw line. She ranks third in the conference in assists average and total assists (137), fourth in free throw accuracy, fifth in total rebounds (211), sixth in rebound average, seventh in free throws made (67) and eight in scoring average. Thomas has scored in double figures 19 times, with two games of 20+ points. She leads the team with five double figure rebound games and three double-doubles.
For her career, Thomas has helped the program to an 88-5 record, three conference titles, three region/district titles, three national tournament appearances, a national runner-up finish in 2021 and fifth place finish in 2022.