Top dogs remain top dogs. Last season’s champion, Northwest Florida State, top the rankings as 2021 turns to 2022 thanks in part to a style of team game that looks to be difficult to match. The Raiders lead team defensive rankings in points allowed per game and stifle opponents by holding them to bottom five rankings in assists and rebounds. NFS also nabs a top 20 ranking in turnovers caused at over 22 a game and comes in at sixth best at nearly 16.5 steals per contest. Taking down the Raiders would mean finding a way to score against their impressive defense.
Chipola and Three Rivers, however, are also in the hunt and it would be easy to wager an eventual champ comes out of those top three.
Keep an eye on Shelton State, too. The Buccaneers are the only squad so far that’s been able to stay with Northwest Florida State. Outside of the top ten, Wabash Valley features an intriguing roster and might have the offensive firepower to take down those at the top.
2022 should be very interesting.
1. Northwest Florida State College (Niceville, FL); 14-0
’20-’21 NJCAA champs haven’t been toppled yet.
2. *Three Rivers College (Poplar Bluff, MO); 16-0
Guard Myia Yelder is one of the nation’s best, pouring in 16.4 ppg while shooting over 51 pct from the floor.
3. Trinity Valley Community College (Athens, TX); 11-1
Offensive powerhouse has put up more than 115 points twice this season. 2022 matchups with Tyler will be must-watch contests.
4. Chipola College (Marianna, FL); 15-1
Remarkably efficient offense; Indians hit at 47.9 pct, good for second best in D1.
5. *Shelton State Community College (Tuscaloosa, AL); 12-1
Stifling defense has propelled SS; the team gives up just over 45 a game, second best mark in D1 while holding opponents to a D1 best 25.8 field goal percentage.
6. New Mexico Junior College (Hobbs, NM); 14-1
Somehow the Thunderbirds are still under the radar, with exceptional balance through Cowan, Grenald, Lewis and Zita.
7. *Wabash Valley College (Mount Carmel, IL); 14-1
Lady Warriors shoot an outstanding 46.9 pct from the floor and feature six regulars who average double digit points per game.
8. Western Nebraska Community College (Scottsbluff, NE); 14-1
Lady Cougars lead all D1 teams with an astonishing 91.5 ppg.
9. Georgia Highlands College (Rome, GA); 15-2
Starting guard ShaoTung Lin dishes 7.6 apg, good for third in D1, helping team land in the top 15 in offensive ppg.
10. College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls, ID); 15-1
Golden Eagles avenged an early season loss to Central Arizona with a late-December win at home.
11. Tyler Junior College (Tyler, TX); 11-2
Sharpshooters Laccen and Powell lead an impressive Apache offensive approach; 41.9 pct from three, second best in D1
12. *Blinn College (Brenham, TX); 13-0
Team ball has allowed the Bucs to rise in the ranks; averaging 22 assists per game as a team, second in D1 as a team.
13. Jones College (Ellisville, MS); 7-1
Light early schedule got tougher in December with a hard loss at powerhouse Chipola, and only gets heavier in January.
14. Butler Community College (El Dorado, KS); 12-2
Grizzlies get it done on both ends of the floor; seventh in D1 in team field goal percentage and 15th in field goal percentage against.
15. *Kilgore College (Kilgore, TX); 11-2
If Rangers can navigate through one of the toughest schedules in D1, Kilgore will continue to feature in the top 25.
16. Eastern Oklahoma. 10-3, 2-0 in Conference.
Two of their losses were to Kilgore. Really athletic, aggressive veteran group that almost beat Three Rivers in the NJCAA tournament last year. Should dominate in conference and be a sleeper heading into the NJCAA tournament.
17. Independence. 12-2, 8-1 and 1st place in the Jayhawk Conference.
Has one of the best PGs in the nation with third-year sophomore Maisa Marcal. Defending Region VI (Jayhawk) Champions. Big match-up with Butler next week who is second in the Jayhawk.
18. Gulf Coast State College (Panama City, FL); 11-4
Sophomore guard Morgan Robinson-Nwagwu is one of the best in the nation, averaging 21.1 ppg, fourth best in D1.
19. South Georgia Technical College (Americus, GA); 14-4
Dizeko’s scoring, Gassama’s rebounding and Simmons’s passing game lead a dangerous Jets squad.
20. Moberly Area Community College (Moberly, MO); 14-2
Freshmen Indya Green and McKenna Eddings pour in an impressive 33 per game together.
21. Florida SouthWestern State College (Fort Meyers, FL); 10-3
Bucs three losses have come against tough competition in NFS, Gulf Coast State, and always strong DME Academy.
22. Angelina (Lufkin, TX), 11-2
23. Pensacola State College (Pensacola, FL); 12-1
Defensive-minded Pirates rank seventh in D1 in both points against and turnovers caused.
24. Casper College (Casper, WY); 14-4
Impressive schedule has seen Lady T-Birds put up tough fights in losses against Western Nebraska and Southern Idaho.
25. Arizona Western. 14-1. On a 10-game winning streak and beat Eastern Arizona. Out of conference, beat Frank Phillips and Snow (3x).
Others to watch: Hutchinson (Hutchinson, KS), North Dakota SCS (Wahpeton, ND) Panola (Carthage, TX)
*Teams on the rise
**Junior Colleges in the state of California do not participate in the NCJAA and thus, are not ranked here.
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