Triton’s Jayla Rankin Earns NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American Honors
Following an exceptional season with the Trojans, Triton’s Jayla Rankin has earned NJCAA All-American honors, becoming the seventh player in program history to receive the honor.
RIVER GROVE, Ill. — Triton College women’s basketball standout Jayla Rankin has been named an NJCAA Division I Honorable Mention All-American.
Rankin becomes the seventh player in program history and the third women’s basketball player in the past four years to earn All-American honors. She also was named NJCAA Region 4 Division I Player of the Year and first-team All-Region 4.
“I’m definitely appreciative of it,” Rankin said. “But it’s not something I’m thinking about.”
National awards were never on Rankin’s radar. Her focus has remained on involving teammates in winning basketball and serving as an extension of the coach on the court.
“I definitely describe myself as a leader,” said Rankin, a sophomore point guard.
The honor follows a breakout season after sitting out the last two months of the 2024-25 campaign due to a season-ending knee injury.
“Jayla was on track to win last year,” said Triton coach Drew Winston. “To see her bounce back from the injury and get the nod this year is an amazing accomplishment.”
Rankin led the Trojans with 631 points (19.1 per game), ranking fifth nationally and third in program single-season history. She scored a season-high 41 points Jan. 10 at Sauk Valley Community College.
In 49 career games, she has 828 points, ranking 12th in program history. She also finished with 82 three-pointers, including a school record-tying nine in the Sauk Valley game, ranking 10th nationally.
Rankin added 179 assists, ranking eighth among NJCAA Division I players, and set a Triton and Region 4 Division I tournament record with 16 assists March 2 against Daley College.
She also logged 1,135 minutes (34.4 per game), ranking sixth nationally.
Despite the statistics, Rankin’s play remained team-first throughout the season, consistently making decisions aimed at creating the best opportunities for her teammates.
Rankin, who grew up near Menomonee Falls on the Milwaukee border, also excelled academically. She plans to major in health, sport and exercise science, with career goals in coaching, athletic training or physical therapy.
“Academically, being a student is more important,” Rankin said. “I want a school that balances academics and basketball, with a strong coaching staff and a place that feels like home.”
Several NCAA Division I and other programs have expressed interest. Rankin plans to take visits later this semester and make a decision this spring.
For more information on Triton women’s basketball, visit tritonathletics.com.
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Media Contacts:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper | melissacooper@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3496
Hunter Oberst | hunteroberst@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3820
ABOUT TRITON COLLEGE:
Triton College, located at 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove, is a public institution of
higher education dedicated to student success. Recently recognized by the Aspen Institute
as one of the Top 200 community colleges in the nation, Triton offers more than 130 degree and certificate
programs that prepare students to pursue meaningful careers, transfer to four-year
universities, and thrive in a global economy. Guided by our mission—Valuing the individual, educating and serving the community—Triton serves nearly 17,000 students annually on its 110-acre campus in River Grove,
Illinois. Our dedicated faculty and staff provide high-quality, accessible and affordable
educational opportunities that empower students and strengthens the communities we
serve. Triton College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member
of The Illinois Community College Board. Illinois is home to 45 colleges in 39 community
college districts. Learn more at triton.edu.