OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College women's basketball team will open the 2025-26 season in the same position where they ended last year – No. 1 in NJCAA Division II.
The Cavaliers were a unanimous choice Tuesday for the top spot in the NJCAA D-II Preseason Poll. Johnson County is coming of a third national championship. Last week, JCCC was also picked by the KJCCC Division II coaches to win their sixth consecutive conference championship.
Following JCCCC in the NJCAA D-II preseason poll were national runners-up Pima Community College in the second spot, with Kirkwood Community College, CCBC Essex, and Illinois Central College rounding out the Top-5. Also making the preseason rankings from the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference were Allen Community College at No. 9 and Neosho County Community College a No. 16. In addition to facing Allen and Neosho County twice during the season, JCCC also is scheduled to host No. 10 North Central Missouri College Nov.15 and No. 24 Parkland College Dec. 12.
Under the direction of four-time National Coach of the Year Ben Conrad, JCCC has appeared in the NJCAA D-II Preseason Poll in each of his 17 previous seasons, including 14 times in the top five. That streak is expected to extend again in 2025-26.
While expectations remain high, there are challenges ahead with eight of the top 10 players from last year's title team having moved on. Still, Conrad has long proven his ability to reload quickly, mastering the revolving door at the two-year level to consistently produce nationally competitive squads.
"We are really starting from scratch, but we really like our freshmen and the two returners who were major pieces in our national title run," Conrad said. "I think we'll have a chance to be very dangerous late, but the early part of the season could be interesting. We'll need to hang our hat on defense while we come together offensively."
Johnson County was a perfect 30-0 in the regular season last year getting upset by Highland in the Region 6 Tournament semifinals. Despite the setback, the Cavaliers received an at-large bid to the national tournament and turned that opportunity into a national championship, the second under Conrad.
Leading the way is guard Layla Scott, last year's national tournament MVP and a first-team All-America selection. Scott averaged 16.3 points per game and ranked third in the NJCAA with 115 made three-pointers - the second-highest single-season total in program history. She elevated her play in the national tournament, averaging 16.8 points, capped by a 25-point performance in the championship win over Pima.
Also returning is sharpshooting guard Kara Stricklin, who averaged 8.7 points and finished second on the team with 65 three-pointers. She reached double figures 13 times last season and provides another dangerous perimeter threat. Last season she showed the ability to take over a game and make shots in the biggest moments.
Up front, forwards Paige Cheffey and Karlee Ellick add depth and experience. Cheffey appeared in 32 games last season, while Ellick, who contributed 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game in 2023-24, returns after redshirting last year. Expectations are high for her impact this season.
Conrad will rely on a talented freshman class to replace the production of last year's sophomores. Newcomers in the backcourt consist of Mia Adams (Holland Hall HS/Tulsa, Okla.), Anonda Ford (University Academy/Kansas City, Mo.), Korri Holcer (Meadville HS/Meadville, Mo.), Makayia Johnson (Holland Hall HS/Broken Arrow, Okla.), Jocelyn Moore (Shawnee Mission South HS/Roeland Park, Kan.), Hayden Snodgrass (Andover Central HS/Andover, Kan.), Jade Warren (Monomonee Falls HS/Milwaukee, Wis.) and Skyte Wilson (Clinton HS/Clinton, Mo.).
The frontcourt newcomers are Layla Barnes (Blue Valley HS/Stillwell, Kan.), Destinee Deer (Norman HS/Norman, Okla.) and Makenna Jennings (Ft. Zumwalt West HS/O'Fallon, MO.).
Adams is an extremely athletic wings with the ability to make long-range shots. She should make an impact early this season. A talented four-sport athlete as a prep, Adams was twice the winner of Miss Inside by the Tulsa World. She was a state champion in the long jump and helped her soccer team win a state title as a junior and finish runner-up her senior year.
Ford, who came to JCCC from a winning program, is an all-around player with a high motor and has the look of a gamer. At University Academy she scored over 1,700. She was a two-time Missouri Class 2 All-State selection and her senior year she was selected the Crossroads Conference and District Player of the Year.
While Holcer will be playing in her first collegiate season, she is not a new to the program. She served a redshirt season with the program last year and has made major gains with her strength over the year. Holcer had a prolific high school career at Meadville, averaging double figures all four years to finish her career with 1,929 points. She brought in a suitcase full of honors and helped her team to a perfect 31-0 record and a state championship her junior year.
Johnson is a tough, hard-nosed blue-collar wing who has shown the ability to shoot the three, making her a dangerous threat. She as an all-conference and all-district selection with her prep team and had a highly successful career playing on various club team, highlighted by her time with Team Griffin helping them win the Tournament of Champions in Chicago, a national championship in Orlando and the USIN Championship.
Like Holcer, Moore is no stranger to the program. She too served a redshirt season at JCCC in 2024-25. Conrad describes her as a game manager with good quickness and physicality at the point. A local product, Moore was a four-time All-Sunflower League selection and was a McDonald's All-America nominee her senior year. She helped the Shawnee Mission South to a 24-1 record and a Kansas. 6A state championship in 2024, the first since for the program since 1995. She closed out her career with 315 assists, third-most all-time.
Snodgrass is an extremely basketball savvy, super bouncy wing who can score at all three levels according to Conrad. A transfer from Pittsburg State University where she was a member of the volleyball team last year, Snodgrass was a finalist for the Lynnette Woodward High School Female Athlete of the Year her senior year at Andover Central. As a hoop player, she was a two-time KBCA 5A All-State selection after averaging 14.1 points her junior year and 16.1 her senior year, which led the league.
Warren is an elite athlete with high ceiling and a good feel for the game offensively. She was an all-conference selection her senior year and was picked to play in the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division I All-Star Game. She also garnered all-conference accolades following her junior year. She closed out her career with 929 points, 359 rebounds, 215 steals and 164 assists.
Wilson is an extremely quick, tough and competitive point guard who is expected to improve throughout the year. A four-year starter at Clinton, she set the school record for career points with 1,670. She also set a season record with 665 points her senior year along with the single-game record of 39 that season. Wilson also was a two-time All-State selection in soccer and qualified for the state track and field championships in 100-mters in 2023.
Barnes is described by Conrad as an active, blue-collar type big that fits the mold of some of the past bigs in terms of controlling the paint. A two-year starter at Blue Valley, Barnes was named Kansas 6A All-State honorable mention her senior year. She was a two-time All-Eastern Kansas League pick and was selected to play in the KBCA All-Star Game.
Deeter is a big, athletic wing forward with big upside and she could be counted on to produce this season. A three-year starter at Norman High, she was named Oklahoma 6A All-District both as a junior and senior.
Jennings is an athletic forward with the ability to guard multiple positions and block shots at the rim. Conrad says she has a high ceiling with major upside. A three-year starter at Ft. Zumwalt West, Jennings was named Missouri Class 3 All-District and all-conference her senior year after averaging 11.2 points and 6.0 rebounds with 100 steals. She finished second all-time in school history with 284 steals. She also tallied 685 pints and 427 rebounds over her three seasons.
The 2025-26 seasons tips off on Friday, Oct. 31, when the Cavaliers face Murray State College at the Highland Classic, followed by Central Community College-Columbus on Saturday Nov. 1. Following those two neutral site games, JCCC will play its next eight games on their home court, beginning with Bethany College JV on Tuesday, Nov. 4.