Tamara Nard named to NJCAA Coaches Association All-Star Team

Freshman All-American Tamara Nard has been named to the 2020 NJCAA Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Team as announced by the National Office last week.

The All-Star list is made up of the top players from around the NJCAA who are entering their sophomore season. This year's list features 33 Division I, 12 Division II, and five Division III student-athletes across 42 various NJCAA institutions. 

Due to the effect COVID-19 has had on the country, the WBCA All-Star Weekend was cancelled this year.

From the NJCAA Release:

"On behalf of the NJCAA Women's Basketball Coaches Association, we would like to congratulate the 2020 NJCAA WBB CA All Star and HOF event participants. It deeply saddens us that we will not be able to honor these participants this year at our annual event which was cancelled in April due to COVID-19 concerns. They have worked very hard during their freshman year to be selected to represent their institutions, their regions, and the NJCAA. However, this is still a great honor and we will do our best to promote these deserving student-athletes. It also deeply saddens us that we will not be able to honor our lone Hall of Fame inductee this year, Harry Meeks from Vincennes University. Although, we do plan to honor Harry at the 2021 event. I want to thank all of the NJCAA WBB CA members that nominated their deserving student-athletes, our 2020 NJCAA WBB CA All Stars, and the HOF committee for their hard work this year and the NJCAA National Office for their assistance at every stage of this process."

Nard becomes the seventh Grizzly under head coach Mike Helmer to earn this prestigious honor.

"I am so proud of Tamara," commented coach Helmer. "It is well deserved, and she worked really hard throughout the season."

Nard's season was cut short due to COVID-19 as the Grizzlies were set to return to the NJCAA Div. I Women's National Tournament for a second straight year.

"I feel she would of had a huge National Tournament," commented Helmer. "She was playing so well late in the season and I couldn't wait to watch her put her talent to work in Texas at the tournament.  She is not only a great basketball player but more importantly an amazing young lady and I am proud to be her coach."

Nard pieced together quite a resume during her freshman campaign. Prior to being selected to the NJCAA Coaches Association, Nard was an NJCAA 1^st team All-American, KJCCC 1^st team All- Conference, KJCCC Freshman of the Year, Region VI 1^st team and Region VI Tournament All-Star team.