Release courtesy of Johns Hopkins Athletic Communications
SALEM, Va. --- Johns Hopkins senior guard Diarra Oden was named a Jostens Trophy finalist it was announced this morning. Oden is just the second player in JHU women's basketball history to be named a finalist for this prestigious award, joining Angie Arnold.
The Jostens Trophy honors - one for men's basketball and one for women's basketball - are national awards created by the Rotary Club of Salem and sponsored by Jostens, Inc., to recognize the most outstanding men's and women's Division III basketball players of the year. The awards focus on three major criteria: basketball ability, academic prowess, and service to one's surrounding communities. The Jostens Trophy models the Rotary International motto of "Service Above Self" by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of a well-rounded Division III student-athlete. The 2022 season marks the 24th time the Jostens Trophy honors will be awarded.
Last month, Oden was the fifth Blue Jay in program history to be named Centennial Conference Player of the Year and first guard since 1999. The Atlanta, GA native was the leading scorer of the 22-5 Blue Jays, averaging 16.2 points per contest. Oden finished fourth on the team in rebounds, grabbing an even five per contest. She chipped in with 40 assists and 41 steals on the season as well. The senior guard surpassed 1,000 points for her career earlier this season, finishing her career with 1,073 points in 80 career games. The three-year captain ranks in the top-20 in Blue Jay history in multiple categories in both single-season and career marks. Oden was also a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and awaits the CoSIDA Academic All-America release next week.
This season, the initial vetting process resulted in ties for the final position for both sets of finalists. The 22 finalists will now be reviewed by the Jostens Trophy National Selection Committee (PDF). The 27-person committee is composed of men and women from across the country. The committee features current and former athletic administrators and head coaches, past Jostens Trophy recipients, and select members of the Division III media. The committee will spend the next two weeks reviewing the nominees with the aim of announcing the two winners on Thursday, March 24.
Listed below are the finalists for the 2022 Jostens Trophy awards (listed alphabetically by last name):
| WOMEN'S FINALISTS | MEN'S FINALISTS | ||
| Hanna Geistfeld, Bethany Lutheran College | Nyameye Adom, Wheaton College (Ill.) | ||
| Averi Jordan, DeSales University | Buzz Anthony, Randolph-Macon College | ||
| Abbey Lawrence, Case Western Reserve University | Nick Bowman, Trine University | ||
| Shannon McCoy, Kean University | Jack Davidson, Wabash College | ||
| Diarra Oden, Johns Hopkins University | Conner Delaney, Johns Hopkins University | ||
| Leah Porath, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | Robert Hawkinson, New York University | ||
| Kenedy Schoonveld, Hope College | Jordan Johnson, Concordia University-Wisconsin | ||
| Elizabeth Singleton, Clarks Summit University | Matthew Leritz, Illinois Wesleyan University | ||
| Rylee Stafford, Fontbonne University | Luke Rogers, Tufts University | ||
| Jenna Taylor, Simpson College | Dempsey Roggenbuck, Linfield University | ||
| Olivia Weinel, Shenandoah University | Matthew Schner, Emory University |