Blinn College women’s basketball head coach said farewell to his 2023-24 freshman class this spring, and nine of those players will soon begin new chapters at four-year institutions. Nine Buccaneers are set to continue their athletic and academic journeys this fall, with two headed to NCAA Division I programs, five committing to NCAA Division II schools, and two signing with National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) institutions.
Blinn College women’s basketball sophomore forwards Johnson and DJ Kincade will move on to the NCAA Division I level after two impactful seasons with the Buccaneers. Johnson led Blinn during the 2024-25 season with 11.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game and earned Region XIV all-region and all-conference recognition. She will continue her career at Winthrop University. Kincade, known for her defensive presence, averaged 5.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.25 steals per game in her second year and was named Region XIV Defensive Player of the Year. She will play for California State University, Bakersfield.
Joining NCAA Division II programs are sophomore guards Jonesha Neal and Ja’Nya Thomas and forward Crystal Jones, all committing to The University of Texas Permian Basin. Neal earned all-region and all-conference honors with averages of 11.5 points, six assists, four rebounds, and 1.72 steals per game. Thomas posted 7.1 points and two assists per contest in her second season, while Jones appeared in 18 games as a redshirt freshman.
Sophomore guard Wynter Jones is transferring to Colorado State University Pueblo, where she will continue after averaging 7.9 points, 2.4 assists, and two rebounds per game in her second season. Forward Harper Biley will also compete at the DII level after signing with the University of Arkansas at Monticello. In her lone season at Blinn, Biley recorded 3.7 points and three rebounds per game.
Two of the Blinn College women’s basketball will head to NAIA programs: sophomore guard Liz Walton will play at Stephens College, and Nala Richardson will join Texas Wesleyan University. Walton established herself as a perimeter shooter, averaging 2.3 points per game and nearly 30 percent shooting from three-point range. Richardson contributed 2.7 points and two rebounds per game in her second season. The class contributed to 48 wins over two seasons, including a Region XIV Tournament title and an appearance in the 2023-24 NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship tournament.
Johnson and Neal were also honored as the 2024 recipients of the Don Wilhelm Award, presented annually to the top player or players in the Blinn women’s basketball program. The award is named after former Blinn athletic director Don Wilhelm, a member of both the NJCAA Hall of Fame and the Blinn College Hall of Honor. Blinn’s head coach praised the graduating class for their dedication both on and off the court, noting their academic achievements and role in advancing the program. Blinn College has participated in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and has won 53 national championships since 1987.
