Blinn College sophomore guard Hailey Atwood (Austin) and women’s basketball student coach Amani Landers (San Antonio) recently received honors from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC).
Atwood was named the 2020-21 TABC player of the year and Landers was named the 2020-21 TABC student coach of the year for the junior college level.
“Hailey and Amani being named TABC player of the year and student coach of the year is a tremendous honor,” head coach Jeff Jenkins said. “I have so much respect for the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, and for them to honor two of our Blinn College family members means so much to me.”
Atwood was named a first-team All-American this season after finishing eighth in the nation with 443 total points in 24 games. 
“There are so many good junior college programs and players in the State of Texas, so for the TABC to honor Hailey as the best for the 2021 season is awesome,” Jenkins said. “She is truly deserving.”
Atwood is signed with the University of Texas at San Antonio. She was named the Region XIV Women’s Basketball Player of the Year after leading the 23rd-ranked Buccaneers to the regional tournament semifinals.
“It is a huge honor for me to be named the TABC player of the year and really shows all of the hard work that has been put in this season to accomplish everything that I did,” Atwood said. “I am proud of myself and want to keep working because this motivates me to continue to practice and become a better player and person.”
Atwood led the region with 18.5 points per game and was fourth in the region with a field goal percentage of 50%. She was second on the Buccaneers with seven rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Atwood totaled six double-doubles and scored a season-high 34 points against Bossier Parish Community College on March 29.
She also earned Region XIV all-tournament honors after leading Blinn with 33 points and totaling nine rebounds in two games. Throughout Atwood’s two seasons starting for Blinn, she totaled 752 points and 305 rebounds.
Landers just completed her second season as a student coach for the Buccaneers. Blinn has qualified for the NJCAA Region XIV Tournament as a nationally ranked team in each of her two seasons as a student coach.
“Amani is a hard worker that did everything that we asked her to do and is a terrific student,” Jenkins said. “The thing that makes Amani so special is how caring she is and how she constantly thinks of other people before herself. I am so happy the TABC recognized her dedication to Blinn.”
The Buccaneers posted an impressive 43-13 record in the last two years.
“I can’t even put into words how grateful and honored I am to be recognized as the TABC student coach of the year,” Landers said. “I am proud to be honored for doing what I love to do most, which is making sure the players were good, helping out, and putting a smile on everyone’s faces. I really enjoyed working with the team and wanted to help the players be the best they could be in basketball and as people.”
The Buccaneers finished the season ranked 23rd in the nation with an overall record of 18-6 and tied for second in the region with a 13-3 conference record. The Buccaneers defeated Paris Junior College 54-44 in the NJCAA Region XIV quarterfinals before their season concluded in semifinals.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
