Nwankwo named JUCO Male Athlete of the Year at banquet

Former Cowley College standout Jeff Nwankwo of the Tiger men's basketball team was named the JUCO Male Athlete of the Year at the 26th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet held Wednesday at INTRUST Bank Arena.

The event honored the best athletes and coaches from around the Wichita area. Maurice Evans, who was a Gatorade Player of the Year out of Wichita Collegiate before going on to play college basketball at Wichita State and Texas, played 11 years in the NBA and served as the guest speaker.

Mike Kennedy, the voice of the Shockers, served as the emcee and wrapped up the night by presenting the Buster Posey Award to the nation's top catcher, Walker Janek of Sam Houston State University.

However, the night belonged to Nwankwo, who helped the Tigers to a 28-6 record and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen at the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament by averaging 18.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 37 percent from beyond the arc.

Nwankwo was named the Player of the Year in the Jayhawk Conference, joining former Tigers Dalen Ridgnal, Tyrus McGee, and Jack Crowder as Cowley's only other All-American selections over the past 30 years.

Nwankwo is now a member of the Oklahoma Sooners basketball team that won 20 games last season and is led by head coach Porter Moser.

"This award means a lot to me," Nwankwo said. "This award is not only for me; it is for my teammates and the community. Go Tigers and Go Sooners!"

Rossana Papa, who helped lead the Lady Tiger volleyball team to a national championship and a record of 41-0, was one of three finalists for the JUCO Female Athlete of the Year award.

For her career at Cowley, the Betty Jo Graber award winner recorded 3,075 career assists (second all-time in Cowley history), 180 service aces (all-time Cowley leader), and 565 digs. She is now preparing for her first season playing volleyball at Missouri State University, where she will be reunited with former Lady Tiger Iva Halacheva.

Kiki Smith, who helped lead the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team to an undefeated season and a national title, was named the JUCO Female Athlete of the Year after averaging 17.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.