OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – For the 14th time in Johnson County women's basketball history the program has produced a first-team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), and the 10th under head coach Ben Conrad.
Sophomore guard Nariyah Simmons, the team's leading scorer in 2022-23, was one of the 10 players to be selected to the first-team NJCAA D-II All-America team. The Lady Cavaliers also landed sophomore guard Mackenzie Hart as a second-team All-American. It marked the 10th time that JCCC has produced two All-Americans in the same season, but just the third time with a first-team and second-team selection.
2022-23 NJCAA D-II Women's Basketball All-America Teams
Earlier in the season both players were selected as first-team All-Region VI/Plains District and All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) D-II performers. Hart was also selected conference's most valuable player along with honorable mention All-America from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Simmons led the team and conference in scoring average at 14.9 points per game, along with averaging 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 steals. She also led the team and conference with 60 made 3-point baskets and ranked sixth in the conference in 3-point field goal accuracy (33.9%). Simmons scored in double figures in 26 games, most on the team, and led the team with six games of 20+ points scored. She was the game's top scorer 12 times, rebound leader four times, tops in assists seven games and steals leader 12 times. Simmons selected as the KJCCC D-II Player of the Week four times, earning the honor in weeks two, six, 10 and 13.
For her career, Simmons averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals. She tallied 802 career points which ranks her 20th all-time and 103 made 3-point baskets, 16th-most all-time at JCCC.
Hart averaged 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. She shot 44.8 percent from the field, 37.5 from 3-point range and 83.8 at the free throw line. Hart ranked third in the conference in scoring average, second in 3-point field goal accuracy, second in made 3-point field goals (57), fourth in total assists (135), fourth in assists per game and ninth in field goal accuracy. She scored in double figures in 25 games and was the teams' leading scorer in 10 games. She was also the top rebounder three times, tops in assists 12 times and led in steals 13 games. During the season, Har was selected as the KJCCC D-II Player of the Week four times, earning the honor in weeks three, seven, 11 and 14.
For her career, Hart averaged 10.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals. She tallied 693 career total points, 335 rebounds, 303 assists and 86 steals. Her 303 total assists rank seventh all-time. Hart scored in double figures 34 times.
Simmons and Hart helped the program to a 67-5 record over their two seaons, two conference titles, two region/district titles, two national tournament appearances and a fifth-place finish in 2022.