Although she never got to experience the thrill of a postseason victory or league title, Kamie Jo (Massey) James [2002-04] was unmatched in Seawolf history when it came to maximizing her effort and talent on the basketball court. Also a future star in cross country and track, the Snow (Utah) College transfer was undaunted by joining a Seawolf basketball program that was coming off a 5-win season in 2001-02, and she wasted little time establishing herself as a force at the Div. II level.
A 5-10 small forward, she captured GNAC Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-GNAC and First Team All-West Region honors as a junior in 2002-03, helping UAA improve to 11-15 overall. With 15.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, she led the GNAC with 14 double-doubles and paced UAA to a GCI Great Alaska Shootout win over Eastern Kentucky.
The following November, Massey would enjoy her crowning moment, earning the Most Outstanding Player award after powering UAA to the 2003 Shootout title with its stunning 61-58 upset of Clemson. The Payson, Utah, native posted 17.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.9 apg and 2.6 spg as UAA once again improved its record (13-14) and rose to sixth place in the final GNAC standings in 2003-04. Along with more all-conference and all-region honors, she received Second Team All-West Region and Second Team Academic All-District accolades, recognizing her 3.46 overall GPA in UAA’s prestigious nursing program.
As of her induction, Massey still ranks among UAA’s top-5 career average leaders in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and free-throw percentage, while her 37.7 minutes per game are 3.7 more than the next woman on that list. She is also one of just two GNAC women’s players to average a double-double for her career.
On the cross country trails, Massey was UAA’s No. 1 or 2 runner throughout the 2004 season, finishing 16th at West Regionals and helping the women’s program to its first-ever NCAA Championships berth. In track & field, she placed fourth in the 800 meters at both the 2003 and 2004 GNAC Championships, plus third place in the 1500 as a senior.
The 2003-04 GNAC Sportsmanship Award winner earned her B.S. in nursing from UAA in 2004, graduating cum laude with a 3.61 GPA. She currently lives in Hurricane, Utah, where she is an active volunteer in her church and with multiple local basketball organizations.
She and her husband Reed have two children, Boyd and Lillian Jo.
