Knights women’s basketball send four players to the next level

North Platte, Neb. – Kayla Pope, Diamond Moore-Heath, Jada Ballard and Janay Brauer signed to continue their athletic careers on Wednesday afternoon.

"I could not be prouder of these four young women," said head coach Jeff Thurman. "What they have accomplished here at NPCC is nothing short of outstanding. Four championships and four degrees during their time here is a product of the work they put in the classroom and on the court."

Pope was a focal point of the offense for the Knights over the past two seasons. The Mesquite, Texas native concludes her Knights career ranked seventh all-time in scoring, while breaking the school record with 117 made free throws during the 2021-22 season. Pope will look to display her talents on the court at Allen University in Columbia, S.C. next year.

Moore-Heath was a dominating post presence for the Knights during her two-year career. Her performance on the court earned her recognition as the top player in the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference, while posting 14 double-doubles during the 2021-22 campaign. Moore-Heath closes out her Knights career ranked 10th all-time in scoring. The Colorado Springs, Colo. native will continue her career at Western New Mexico University in Silver City, N.M.

Ballard finished her sophomore campaign averaging 5.3 points per game in 29 starts for the Knights. Her defensive pressure was a threat for opposing offenses, as her 70 steals helped the Knights seal some tight wins down the stretch of the 2021-22 season. The native of St. Petersburg, Fla. will continue her career at Carolina University in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Brauer had her best season in a Knights uniform during the 2021-22 season. The third-year sophomore averaged a career best 11.9 points per game, while breaking the school record with 93 made three-point field goals over the course of the 2021-22 season. Brauer currently ranks third all-time in scoring and will continue her athletic career at Dickinson State University, in Dickinson, N.D.

"Each one of these student-athletes deserves this opportunity. They will be successful moving forward because they all are amazing individuals," said Thurman. "I am excited to see them begin their new journey."