SGTC Lady Jets sophomore guard Moe Shida named to 2020-21 NJCAA Division I Women’s All-America second team
South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets sophomore guard Moe Shida was selected to the 2020 – 21 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division 1 Women’s Basketball All-American second team, announced the NJCAA today.
“Moe has worked harder to improve her game than any player I have ever coached,” said South Georgia Technical College Athletic Director and Lady Jets head coach James Frey. “She is a true gym rat. She spends hours a week working on her own to become a well-rounded player. New Mexico State did a fantastic job of recruiting her early and getting her to sign in November. She is going to have a great career for them.”
Shida’s selection places her as one of the top 20 players in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s women’s basketball players in Division I for 2020 -2021. Two other players from the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association were also recognized in the NJCAA rankings.
Jashanti Simmons, a freshman guard from Georgia Highlands College in Rome, GA, was listed as a first team NJCAA All-American honor and Taliah Wesley, a sophomore forward from Andrew College in Cuthbert was recognized as an honorable mention All-American in 2020-2021.
This is the second All-American recognition that SGTC’s Moe Shida has received for her performance on the court this season. She was listed as a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Two-Year College Coaches’ All-American earlier.
Moe Shida, a 5’ 7” sophomore point guard for the Lady Jets, is from Hokkaido, Japan. She helped lead the Lady Jets to a 30 – 2 overall record as a freshman and then guided the Lady Jets to a 22 – 4 record during the COVID-19 pandemic shortened 2020 – 2021 season. The Lady Jets were the GCAA Champions, NJCAA Region XVII and Southeast District Champions in 2019- 2020 and qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament prior to the Covid cancellation of that national tournament.
Shida and the Lady Jets captured the NJCAA Region XVII tournament title and won the Southeast District Conference game to advance to the NJCAA National Tournament again in 2020 – 2021 and finished in the top sixteen teams in the nation. The Lady Jets climbed as high as 2nd this season in the NJCAA national rankings.
Shida averaged 11.7 points per game for the Lady Jets this past season. She averaged 28.2 minutes of playing time each game and started 24 of the Lady Jets 26 games. She hits 39% of her field goals, 35.8 percent of her three-point attempts and 67.2% of her free throws. She also averaged 3.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2 steals per game.
Lady Jets head coach James Frey added, “for all the positive things I can say about Moe the player, Moe the person is even more impressive. She’s a fantastic teammate who really cares about the people she plays with and that coach her. I’m going to miss her infectious smile and attitude around our building every day.”