Nafis Ricks is the most decorated player in Johnson County Community College men’s basketball history. He was named to the 2008 and 2009 NJCAA Division II All-America first-team, becoming just one of three players in NJCAA history to earn first-team All-American in back-to-back seasons. Ricks was also named the 2009 State Farm NJCAA Player of the Year by the NABC, NJCAA D-II Player of the Year, NABC All-American, NJCAA All-Region 6 first-team and Region 6 Player of the Year, Kansas Jayhawk Conference East Division first-team and JCCC Male Athlete of the Year. In 2008-09, Ricks led JCCC to a national title and was awarded the tournament’s MVP honor.  He led JCCC in scoring with an average of 17.2 points.  He scored in double figures in 32 of 33 games and recorded a rare triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Highland.  Ricks was also named the State Farm NABC All-American and State Farm Coaches NJCAA Player of the Year in 2009.  Following the season, Ricks was selected to play in the NJCAA All-Star Game. In his freshman year, Ricks led the team in scoring (15.4), rebounding (7.4) and steals (87). He scored in double figures in 27 games and had six double doubles of points and rebounds.  Twice Ricks was selected the NJCAA D-II Player of the Week. Ricks also was selected to the NABC State Farm All-America team, the first player at JCCC to earn this honor.  He was twice honored as an All-East Jayhawk Conference performer and was voted the East Jayhawk Freshman of the Year in 2008. He closed out his career with 1,077 points. Ricks went on to play two seasons at Missouri State University under Cuonzo Martin. As a senior he averaged 9.3 points and 3.9 assists and steered the Bears to a 2011 regular season Missouri Vally Conference Championship. After his collegiate career, Ricks played for BC Jyvaskyla, a first division club in Finland where he averaged 24.6 points per game and 9.7 rebounds. Ricks then spent two seasons in Brazil, where he poured in 17.4 points per game with Liga Sorocaba before a stint with Rio Claro Basquete in the Brazilian Paulista league. Today, Nafis Ricks is working toward a Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, Counseling Psychology at Tennessee State University. His research centers on the effect of how trauma plays a role in black men participating in sports and what is the psychological impact that may occur.