OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Entering his 13th season at Johnson County, two-time National Coach of the Year Ben Conrad has enjoyed a great amount of success leading the Lady Cavaliers' program. His tenure boasts eight straight 30-win seasons, a first in NJCAA women's basketball history, and has amassed a 351-54 (.868) record.
He has also won a NJCAA D-II National Championship and school record 34 wins (2015); a national runner-up finish (2017), three other NJCAA D-II Tournament appearances (2011, 2012, 2013) and five Kansas Jayhawk Conference titles (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017).
His teams have finished as the number one or number two ranked team in the country five times and his teams have been ranked in the top 10 over 90 percent of his tenure, including a span of 98 consecutively. He also has held the No. 1 ranking 52 times, including all 12 polls in 2015-16 and the first seven regular season polls in 2018-19.
Therefore, it should come to no surprise If Conrad's 2020-21 squad appears in the 2020-21 NJCAA D-II Preseason Poll after posting a 28-5 record last year.
This year's team consists of four returnees, one transfer and 12 newcomers. From this group Conrad will look to find replacements for four key starters last year, guards Krystal Rice and Dallie Hoskinson, Christen Curry, and forward KK Jackson-Morris.
"Our expectations really don't change here," said Conrad. "We expect to compete for a championship in the rugged Jayhawk East conference among some of the tops teams in the country. We've been in the mix every year over the past decade and don't expect that to change. Whoever gets through our region is immediately in the discussion for a national title."
The four returnees are led by sophomores 5-11 forward LaJahda Boyland and 5-8 guard Jaylen Townsend. Boyland played in 33 games last season, four as a starter. She averaged 7.7 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds. She also shot 49 percent from the field, which ranked her ninth in the Kansas Jayhawk D-II Conference. She ranked fourth in the conference in rebound average at 7.7 per game, and third in total rebounds with 255. Boyland scored in double figures 12 times, had double digit rebounds 10 games and had five double-doubles.
"LJ is one of the most talented kids we've had here, and she is a terrific leader," said Conrad. "She's has All-America type potential and we can't wait to see what she brings to the floor in year two."
Townsend played in 33 games and started four, averaging 9.1 points 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. She ranked second in the conference in 3-point accuracy at 43.1 percent, hitting 47-of-109 attempts. She scored in double figures in 15 games, including a season-high 22 points against Southeast (1-14-19).
"Jay has made a nice jump and really did a nice job of finding a way to get better at home this summer," Conrad said. "I'm not surprised that she was able to do that. She's a worker and is highly committed. She is moving better and should be more than a jump shooter this year. I think she could put up some big numbers."
The other two returnees are 5-3 guard D'Asya Collier-Williams and 5-8 guard Gabby Fuller. Collier-Williams played in 33 games, once as a starter. She averaged 4.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists per game and dished out 66 assists. She reached double figures once, scoring 10 in a 90-75 win over No. 3-ranked Highland (2-8-20).
"DD also handled her business this summer on her own," Conrad said. "She trains with a very good skill guy and has really made a nice jump. DD is a pass first point guard that won't be pressured by anyone. She has also made progress finishing."
Fuller, who has a high basketball IQ, played in 32 games and averaged 3.8 points and 2.1 rebounds. She shot 39 percent from the field and scored in double figures twice, highlighted by an 18-point performance in a win over Missouri Valley JV (11-13-19). As a prep, Fuller was a highly decorated player at Benton High School in St. Joseph, Mo.
"Gabby is one of those really talented kids that we knew would probably look a little different in year two with some confidence," Conrad said. "She has tremendous versatility, and is able to play literally every position on the floor. She should be a breakout player this year."
The transfer is 5-4 guard Presley Barton out of Mill Valley High School in Kansas City, Kan. Barton spent her freshman season at Hutchinson Community College where she helped the Dragons to a record of 28-4 and berth to the NJCAA D-I National Tournament when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancelation of the season. She played in 26 games and averaged 2.7 points, 0.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.5 steals. She shot 37.3 percent from the field (25-for-67) and 36.0 percent from 3-point range (18-of-50).
"We tried to get Presley here out of high school," said Conrad" She is an elite catch-and-shoot kid with tremendous range. The year of experience at Hutch will be very valuable for her here. She will impact our team immediately."
The remaining portion of the roster is made up of 10 highly talented true freshmen, made of eight guards and two forwards, but several of the guards can play at both spots. The guards are 5-8 Kourtland Tyus (Civic Memorial/Bethalto, Ill.), 5-8 Kiera Prim (Shawnee Mission West/Overland Park, Kan.), 5-6 Lisa Thomas (Center/Kansas City, Mo.), 5-10 Anaiya Uhde (Olathe West/Olathe, Kan.,), 5-6 Destiny Williams (Chester/Chester, Ill.), 5-6 Alina Holsman (Colegio Santa Gema/Carolina, Puerto Rico), and the twins 5-10 Charli Ritchey and Marissa Ritchey (Lee's Summit West/Lee's Summit, Mo.).
Tyus was regarded as one of the top point guards in the state of Illinois her senior year. A four-year starter, Tyus earned Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 3A/4A All-State third-team honors as a junior and senior … Was a four-time first-team All-Mississippi Valley Conference selection, earning second-team as a freshman and first-team her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She finished her career with 1,277 points, 372 rebounds, 530 assists and 362 steals … Her 1,277 points rank fourth all-time in school history, and her 530 assists set a new career record.
Conrad says Prim is one of the most athletic kids to come through the program and her ceiling is super high. A four-year starter at Shawnee Mission West, Prim earned second-team All-Sunflower League after averaging 12.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals as a senior. Her 12.1 per game average ranked eighth in the Sunflower League, and her 6.3 rebound average ranked ninth. She garnered second-team All-Sunflower League as a junior. She was also an all-state performer in track and field.
Thomas, who is a true point guard that possesses great vision and quickness, started her junior and senior years at Center. As a junior, she average 21.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists and earned Missouri All-Class 4 District 13 first-team honors. Her senior year she averaged 25.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game.
Uhde started three years at Olathe West, and earned a letter her freshman at Notre Dame De Sion. She earned All-Sunflower League honorable mention honors as a sophomore, and second-team honors as a junior at Olathe West.
A super athletic combo-guard, Williams was a four-year starter as a prep. She set the Chester career scoring mark with 1,836 points, breaking the previous best total of 1,556 which stool since 1997. She was a four-time All-Black Diamond Conference West selection and two-time MVP. She was also chosen All-South by the Southern Illinois Coaches Association all four years. Williams earned second-team All-State by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association after averaging 17.2 points while leading the Yellowjackets to an 18-14 mark as a junior. She set season record for points, made field goal and free throw percentage that season. As a senior All-State Special Mention by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, and was among 12 finalists for the 2019 Southern Illinois Scholar Athlete of the Year
Described as a very unselfish player with a great motor, Holsman played club basketball for Colegio de Ingenieros in her hometown in Puerto Rico. She helped the team win a LIAA Championship in 2019 and was named MVP of the Area Tournament.
Charli Ritchey was a three-time letter winner at Lee's Summit West. She earned honorable mention Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference Big Six Gold honors as a junior, and All-District as a senior. She helped the Titans win three consecutive conference titles. Ritchey averaged 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists as a senior, and reached double figures scoring 13 times. She also made 48 3-pointers and shot 41 percent beyond the arc.
Marissa Ritchey was also a three-time letter winner, and twice earned Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference Big Six Gold and All-District honors. She too was a part of three conference championship teams. She averaged 8.0 points as a sophomore, 6.8 points as junior and 8.1 points her senior year … Made 116 3-point baskets over her three varsity seasons.
The two forwards are 6-2 Nyayien Koang (Lincoln/Lincoln, Neb.) and 6-0 Khylee Massey (Northern Heights/Allen, Kan.). Both bring good size and athleticism to the position. An original commit to Northwester State University, Koang is a player whose best basketball is ahead of her, and her length, athleticism and skill set allow her to be used in so many different roles. She started three years at Lincoln, and earned honorable mention Nebraska Class A All-State as a senior.
A four-sport athlete at Northern Heights, Massey was considered one of the top small school players in the state her senior year. She averaged double figures all four years. She finished her career with 1,147 points and 609 rebounds. She was named second-team 2A All-State by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association all four years, and was a four-time All-Flint Hills League selection. She was a unanimous first-team pick her sophomore, junior and senior years.
Conrad has two other players on the roster, 5-11 forward Megan Mahan (Willard/Springfield, Mo.) and 5-7 guard Jayde Williams (Benton/St. Joseph, Mo.), but they will be taking a redshirt season in 2020-21 and look to make an impact in 2021-22.
This year's season slate features only 21 games for the Lady Cavaliers, of which 10 are home-and-home games against their five conference opponents. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the normal start date from late October-early November to late January.
"We had a great fall semester and we were very productive," said Conrad. "We really did not have any COVID issues until closer to Thanksgiving. Our players did an amazing job staying in shape over the holidays, and we weren't in a terrible place when we came back in early January. I think his year will really be about who can manage distractions and who can with stand a week or two-week shutdown. I also think teams with interchangeable parts and some depth are going to have a better chance to handle COVID. We preach controlling what we control."
Defending conference champion Labette Community College was picked as the preseason favorite ahead of Johnson County. Kansas City Kansas Community College is slated third, followed by Highland Community College, Fort Scott Community College and Hesston College.
The Lady Cavaliers open their season at home Saturday, January 23 against Southeast Community College.