NORFOLK, Va. - James Madison University guard Precious Hall was selected as Player of the Year, JMU head coach Kenny Brooks has been named the Coach of the Year, while Norfolk State forward Kayla Roberts was picked as the Rookie of the Year in the annual voting by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID) for the 2015 University Division All-State Women’s Basketball Team. Old Dominion’s Jennie Simms was one of just five players to be named to the All-State First Team.
Jennie Simms was awarded conference Newcomer of the Year, First Team All Conference USA and All C-USA Tournament Team, as well as MVP of 2014 South Point Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada. Simms scored 45 points in a win at FIU this season, which tied her for No. 1 in the NCAA for the season at the time and places her second in Lady Monarch history. The Accokeek, Maryland-native led Old Dominion in scoring and rebounding this year, averaging 19.3 points a game and 8.0 rebounds a contest. Jennie scored 20 or more points in a total of 15 games this season, and netted double-figures in 31 of 34 possible contests.
Hall, a five-foot eight-inch guard, finished her junior campaign averaging 20.8 points per game to lead the Colonial Athletic Association, scoring 3.0 3-point field goals per game, the nation's seventh-highest average. She was named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason 30 Watch List and was the CAA's unanimous selection for Player of the Year. She picked up All-CAA First Team and CAA All-Tournament Team accolades as well as Richmond Times-Dispatch Player of the Year and All-State honors.
Brooks led the Dukes to their second straight NCAA tournament appearance. Last year Brooks led the Dukes to their first NCAA tournament win since 1991. James Madison punched their ticket to the ‘Big Dance’ by winning the CAA Tournament again for the eighth time in school history. JMU won 24+ games for the 10th consecutive season, all under Coach Brooks. Brooks was also named the 2013-14 and 2014-15 CAA Coach of the Year.
Kayla Roberts received the VaSID Rookie of the Year Award after being named MEAC Rookie of the Year and earning MEAC Rookie of the Week honors on seven different occasions. The 6-1 forward from Miami Gardens, Fla., was second on the team and 14th in the MEAC in scoring, at 12.4 points per game. She led the MEAC and ranked 51st in the nation with 9.6 rebounds per game, and also paced all MEAC players with 7.4 defensive rebounds per game (19th in the nation).
Joining Hall on the All-State First Team were Malia Tate-DeFreitas of Hampton University, George Mason University’s Taylor Brown, Jennie Simms from Old Dominion University and Lauren Okafor of James Madison University.
Earning a spot on the second team were Rae Corbo (Norfolk State University), Ashley Rininger (Liberty University), Faith Randolph (University of Virginia), Sarah Imovbioh (University of Virginia) and Angela Mickens (James Madison University).
2015 VaSID University Division All-State Women’s Basketball Honors
Player of the Year
Precious Hall (James Madison University)
Coach of the Year
Kenny Brooks (James Madison University)
Rookie of the Year
Kayla Roberts (Norfolk State University)
All-State First Team
Precious Hall (James Madison University)
Malia Tate-DeFreitas (Hampton University)
Taylor Brown (George Mason University)
Jennie Simms (Old Dominion University)
Lauren Okafor (James Madison University)
All-State Second Team
Rae Corbo (Norfolk State University)
Ashley Rininger (Liberty University)
Faith Randolph (University of Virginia)
Sarah Imovbioh (University of Virginia)
Angela Mickens (James Madison University)