OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Johnson County sophomore guard Jaylen Townsend has been named the 2021 NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Player of the Year presented by the Marines. She is the first player in JCCC history to earn this prestigious award.
Prior to this honor, Townsend has been named NJCAA D-II first-team All-American, NJCAA D-II All-Tournament, first-team All-Region VI/Plains District, first-team D-II All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference and MVP of the conference.
"I know there are so many great players at our level but I cannot imagine a more deserving student-athlete. J is one of the hardest-working kids and one of the most committed basketball players that I've been around in 20 years. We are very proud of her," said JCCC head coach Ben Conrad.
Townsend played a vital role in the team's success, helping the Lady Cavaliers to a 22-2 overall record, a conference title and a runner-up finish at the 2021 NJCAA Division II National Tournament.
Townsend led the team and ranked second in the conference averaging 14.8 points per game. She also averaged 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Townsend led the conference and ranked fifth in the NJCAA shooting 88.6 percent from the free throw line. That percentage is a new season record at JCCC. She also ranked ninth in the conference shooting 45.5 percent from the floor. She scored in double figures a team high 21 games. In the national tournament, Townsend averaged 15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and shot 85 percent at the line.
Personal
- Position: Guard
- Class: Sophomore
- Hometown: Edwardsville, Ill.
2020-21 Statistics
- 14.8 points per game
- 45.5 field goal percentage
- 37.7 three-point percentage
- 5.8 rebounds per game
2020-21 Accomplishments
- First-team All-KJCCC D-II
- KJCCC D-II MVP
- First-team NJCAA All-Region VI/Plains District
- First-team NJCAA D-II All-American
- NJCAA D-II Championship All-Tournament Team
- NJCAA D-II Championship Runner-up