April 13, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Shonyah Hawkins brought energy and intensity to the Grand Rapids Community College women’s basketball team, earning Player of the Year honors from the Michigan Community College Athletic Association’s Western Conference.
Hawkins, a sophomore from Grand Rapids, earned All-Region, All-MCCAA honors along with teammate Jayla Bibbs, one of the best rebounders in the nation. They were among five members of the women’s team and three members of the men’s team earning honors announced Tuesday.
The women’s team is 12-2 on the season and is hoping to add some additional awards. The Raiders are headed to the National Junior College Athletic Association D2 National Tournament next week. It’s the team’s first appearance in the tournament since 1978.
“They’re all deserving of these honors. When they came together and played as a unit, they were tough to beat,” women’s basketball coach David Glazier said. “Shonyah is a very talented player, able to do so many things for us. She has tremendous energy and was a leader on the court.”
Bibbs, a sophomore from Buchanan, has 222 rebounds so far this season, fourth-best in the nation in D2. Her offensive boards total was second-best and her average of 15.9 rebounds per game was third-best in the nation.
Danielle Lamancusa, a sophomore from Rockford, earned Second Team All-Conference honors, and Eurasia Green-Boyd, a sophomore from Grand Rapids, and Olivia Koetje, a sophomore from Grandville, received Honorable Mention All-Conference salutes.
Bibbs, a sophomore from Buchanan, Hawkins and Green-Boyd were also named to the All-Defensive Team.
Isaac Anderson of the men’s basketball team was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year, along with Ancilla College’s Marco Beverly.
Anderson, a sophomore from Fort Wayne, Ind., and Chandler Collins, a sophomore from Hudsonville, were named to the Second Team All-Conference team.
Azyah Brown, a freshman from Allentown, Penn., earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors and named to the All-Freshman team.