NJCAA ANNOUNCES 2020 ALL-STAR TEAM!
The National Junior College Athletic Association
Women's Basketball Competition Consists of:
- 3 Divisions
- 42 States
- 400+ Teams
- 5,000+ Student-Athletes
Each year- 50 STAR-Athletes are appointed to the ALL-STAR TEAM. Only a fraction of a fraction of a single percent or 0.009% make the Star-Studded Team.
Such a prestigious award could only be entrusted in the hands of experts such as, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association of the NJCAA.
"Its objective shall be to promote basketball to its highest level in two-year colleges throughout the nation; to place at the disposal of coaches, sources of Basketball information; to advise through recommendation, the NJCAA Standing Committee on Women's Basketball." -National Jr. College Athletic Association
It must take one competitive student-athlete to make such a team. Perhaps... sky-high GPA, stellar game performance, on point all around, just like, well- a star.
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Gracing the President's List (3.5-4.0) with sky-high GPA, while dazzling on court with stellar game performance, one Cedar Valley student-athlete began the school year as a budding star. Upon taking off, she assisted her team towards becoming undefeated conference champs. On the rise, she caught the attention at local competition and was named MVP by the end of the Dallas Athletic Conference. Blasting off to the district championship, she soon found herself pushing through new barriers alongside the Lady Suns women's basketball team. She soared straight to the top, after the Lady Suns took the district championship, qualifying for nationals. At an all-time high, she celebrated the program's historic season alongside the entire CVC Athletics department, as the Lady Suns became the semi-finalists of the NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Championship. She was a star in the making, who continued winning post season, as she was named honorary member of DAC's 1st Team All-Conference and the NJCAA's 2nd Team All-American.
As the old cliché goes- they save the best for last and the NJCAA's Women's Basketball Coaches Association recently released their expertly selected All Star Team.
"The list is comprised of exceptionally talented athletes who are entering their sophomore year after competing at an NJCAA member school for the 2019-20 season. This year's honorees feature 33 Division I, 12 Division II, and five Division III student-athletes across 42 various NJCAA institutions."
-Women's Basketball Coaches Association
That's Right- 5 STUDENT-ATHLETES! What are the odds? About… 0.0009 or slightly less than 1/1,000!
Indeed- the All-Star Team is highly regarded as one of the most esteemed honors the NJCAA can bestow upon a student-athlete. Reserved for the elite and most promising competitors. With such high expectations set in an increasingly competitive setting, such awards seem entirely out of reach… that is- until one of our fellow SUNS reminds us of who we are.
Throughout her tenure at CVC, she was dubbed several names by the NJCAA, according to her striking talent as a student-athlete: All-American, Player of the Week, Most Valuable Player, 1st Team All-Conference member and most recently- All-Star Team Member!
As for all us SUNS here at CVC, she has always been- Lady Sun #3, Kaiyla Payne.
Just another one of our home grown heroes. What's next? Payne will continue her athletic college career and play Division I women's basketball later this Fall, as she joins the Lady Jaguars with the University of North Texas at Dallas.
And there we have it. Off goes another one of our successful SUNS, setting off on to new endeavors. It just goes to show the astronomic aptitude of CVC student-athletes and the abundance of opportunities available through the NJCAA with Dallas College. An uplifting testimony, Kaiyla Payne's story serves as a reminder to never underestimate the true potential of community college. For, amid these most difficult times- the Suns have yet to give up pursuing their dreams, carrying on shining stronger than ever with student-athletes reaching for the very top of their competition and landing among the stars- right where the SUNS belong!