Senior forward LynKaylah James delivered a historic 2025-26 season for Berea College, cementing her legacy as one of the most dominant players in program history.

She opened the year with a commanding double-double performance, setting the tone for what would become a season defined by consistency, toughness, and elite production on both ends of the floor. Night after night, she led Berea in scoring and rebounding, routinely posting 20-plus point performances while controlling the glass with double-digit rebounds.

Her early-season surge included multiple back-to-back double-doubles, highlighted by dominant outings of 27 points and 16 rebounds and 25 points and 14 rebounds in key victories. Her ability to finish in the paint, convert second-chance opportunities, and defend at a high level made her a matchup problem throughout conference play.

James' earned her Athlete of the Week honors during the season, but her impact extended far beyond weekly recognition. As conference play intensified, she remained Berea's steady force — producing in clutch moments, elevating her teammates, and maintaining one of the top scoring and rebounding averages in the league.

Her historic campaign culminated in being named Player of the Year in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, the conference's highest individual honor. The award recognized not only her statistical dominance but also her leadership and overall influence on the court throughout the 2025-26 season.

In addition to her conference recognition, James became Berea's all-time leading rebounder during the season and is now ranked second in scoring for Berea, with a total of 1,553 points, showcasing four years of consistent performance.