BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Jackson State senior center Ameshya Williams has been named SWAC Preseason Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. The preseason honors and teams, released on Tuesday, were voted upon by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
SWAC Player of the Year ✔️
Defensive Player of the Year ✔️
Coach of the Year ✔️🔜 2021#BleedTheeBlue x #TheeILove x #ProtectTheeBlock pic.twitter.com/IzVkETVxRD
— Jackson State Women’s Basketball (@GoJSUTigersWBB) November 3, 2020
Williams was ninth in the conference in scoring last season with an average of 12.8 points per game, second in rebounds with 10.1 rebounds per game (116 offensive, 156 defensive), fourth in field goal percentage (.468), and twelfth in free throw percentage (.543). Defensively she led the league in blocked shots with three per contest.
She was selected to the Preseason All-SWAC First-Team along with Justice Coleman (Grambling State), Dayzha Rogan (Jackson State), Niya Mitchell (Texas Southern), and Dariauna Lewis (Alabama A&M).
Ataiya Bridges (Texas Southern), Deshawna Harper (Alabama A&M), Jayla Crawford (Alabama State), Ayana Emmanuel (Alabama State), and Nigeria Jones (Alabama A&M) were all selected to the Preseason All-SWAC Second-Team.
Alabama A&M garnered the most preseason team selections (3), followed by Alabama State (2), Jackson State (2), Texas Southern (2), and Grambling State (1).
2020-21 SWAC Preseason Player of the Year
Ameshya Williams- Jackson State
2020-21 SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Ameshya Williams- Jackson State
2020-21 Preseason All-SWAC First Team
| Position | Name | Classification | School | Hometown |
| Guard | Justice Coleman | Senior | Grambling State | Baton Rouge, La. |
| Guard | Dayzsha Rogan | Senior | Jackson State | Ripley, Miss. |
| Forward | Niya Mitchell | Graduate | Texas Southern | Bay City, Texas |
| Forward | Dariauna Lewis | Junior | Alabama A&M | Omaha, Neb. |
| Center | Ameshya Williams | Senior | Jackson State | Gulfport, Miss. |
2020-21 Preseason All-SWAC Second Team
| Position | Name | Classification | School | Hometown |
| Guard | Ataiya Bridges | Senior | Texas Southern | Lanett, Ala. |
| Guard | Deshawna Harper | Senior | Alabama A&M | Indianapolis, Ind. |
| Guard | Jayla Crawford | Junior | Alabama State | Birmingham, Ala. |
| Guard | Ayana Emmanuel | Junior | Alabama State | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
| Guard | Nigeria Jones | Senior | Alabama A&M | Lincoln, Neb. |
Head coaches and sports information directors not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes.
Courtesy: SWAC
