March 15, 2023 – Collin College men’s and women’s basketball players and the women’s team coach have been honored for their performances in the 2022-23 season. Eight players earned All-Region and All-Conference honors, while women’s coach Jeff Allen was named a national coach of the year. The teams compete in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) in Region V of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
The Collin College Lady Cougars finished the regular season with 28 wins and one loss, setting a school record for most wins and finishing No. 7 in the NJCAA coaches poll. The team also earned the college’s first-ever at-large invitation to the NJCAA National Tournament to be held March 22-27 in Lubbock. The following players earned All-Conference and All-Region honors.
Collin College Lady Cougars
Waiata Jennings (Rotorua, New Zealand) – All-Region V Team, First Team All-Conference, Player of the Year, Co-Freshman of the Year
MacKenzie Buss (Lake Dallas) – All-Region V Team, First Team All-Conference
Caroline Glud Rasmussen (Kongens Lyngby, Denmark) – All-Conference Honorable Mention
Mykaila Pickard (Anchorage, Alaska) – All-Conference Honorable Mention
Beyonce’ Lane (Corpus Christi) – All-Conference Honorable Mention
Jeff Allen – NTJCAC Coach of the Year
In addition to conference coaching honors, Allen was named Two-Year College National Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
“Jeff was chosen for this honor after leading his team to an exceptional season,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle M. Donehew. “The WBCA recognizes and applauds his leadership example that can be seen in his student-athletes, institution, and community.”
Jennings was also named to the 2023 WBCA Two-Year College Coaches’ All-America Team, selected by a committee of WBCA member coaches in that division. Donehew remarked that members of the 10-player team “have worked to elevate their teams and themselves to an elite level of competition. Through their exceptional talents on the basketball court, they have also lifted the women’s game.”
The Collin College men’s team finished its regular season with an 18-12 overall record. The team scored an average of 81.2 points per game. The following Cougars earned All-Conference honors.
Collin College Cougars
Isaiah Washington (Converse) – First Team All-Conference
Robby Williams (Charleston, West Virginia) – Second Team All-Conference
Lav Cvetkovic (Novi Sad, Serbia) – All-Conference Honorable Mention
Collin College serves more than 57,000 credit and continuing education students annually and offers more than 100 degrees and certificates, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Cybersecurity, and a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Construction Management. The only public college based in Collin County, Collin College is a partner to business, government, and industry, providing customized training and workforce development. For more information, visit www.collin.edu.