BOULDER - On Monday, March 4, Colorado’s Jaylyn Sherrod was named Pac-12 Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The graduate guard from Birmingham, Alabama is playing in her fifth and final season for the Buffs. This year, Sherrod averaged 12.8 points per game, the second most for the Buffaloes behind Aaronette Vonleh’s 14.3. She led the team in assists per game with 4.7 and steals per game with 2.1.
Sherrod is the first basketball player from CU to win Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She is the 10th Buffalo to win the award and the first since cross-country star Sage Hurta in 19-20.
The Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year has been given out each season since 2007-08 and is presented to one man and woman for each of the 24 Pac-12 sponsored sports. The nominee must be a senior, maintain a 3.0 GPA, and play in at least 50% of the games.
Despite her immense commitment to basketball, Sherrod has displayed a disciplined work ethic towards her studies. In three years, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a 3.83 GPA. Last year, she concluded a master’s in Organizational Leadership and is currently working on a master’s in Criminal Justice.
Sherrod has been in the spotlight since her first career game at Colorado when she dished out 11 assists, the most by a Buffalo in her debut since 1979.
The Alabama native has led Colorado in assists per game for the past five consecutive seasons, dating back to her freshman year in 2019-20. She also has had the most steals per game during her tenure as a Buffalo in all but one season, when Kindyll Wetta averaged 0.3 steals more in 2021-22.
Her contribution to the Buffaloes has been unmatched since she stepped foot in Boulder five years ago. Sherrod was chosen to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team in 2019-20 along with receiving the CU Most Improved award that same year. She has been part of the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll three separate years and was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive team this year, for a third time in her last four seasons.
Sherrod received All-Pac-12 honors in 2023 and was nominated again today, with the 2024 Pac-12 awards being announced.
Sherrod has led the Buffs to a 21-8 (11-7 Pac-12) record this season, ranking the Buffaloes as the No. 18 ranked team in the country. The seven conference losses land Colorado in the fifth spot in the Pac-12 conference. According to ESPN, the Colorado women’s basketball team is projected to be a four-seed in the upcoming March Madness Tournament. Assuming the Buffaloes receive a top-four seed, Colorado could host up to two tournament games, with a win in the first round.
The attitudes and leadership shown by Sherrod on and off the court have helped Colorado win countless games over the past five years. Her playmaking and defensive skills will be greatly missed next season.
Sherrod's ability to balance impeccable dedication between basketball and school made her the perfect recipient of the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.
Cover Photo by Roberto Patrick Gerra/Sko Buffs Sports
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