Former Colorado star Jaylyn Sherrod wins Tom Hansen outstanding senior female athlete of the year award

Former Colorado basketball star Jaylyn Sherrod was announced on Monday as the 2023-24 Pac-12 Tom Hansen Conference Medal winner. Sherrod was joined by Charlisse Leger-Walker (Washington State Cougars guard) and Cameron Brink (former Stanford forward) as the only women from basketball to win the Tom Hansen medal this year.

Although the New York Liberty waived the former Colorado guard in May, the Birmingham native received the AP All-America honorable mention in March. Sherrod was third in the Pac-12 for total assists with 172 and second for average assists per game, achieving 5.1 this season.

Sherrod has played in every one of CU's 33 games and set a new record for the Buffs with the most career starts, totaling 133. She scored in double figures 21 times this season, including three games of 20 or more, and has recorded at least one steal in 30 games.

In 2019, Sherrod joined a CU program that was last in the Pac-12. She led CU to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments and became the third Buff in program history to record over 1,000 points (1,483) and 600 (645) assists in her career.

Jaylyn Sherrod is an ambitious individual

Jaylyn Sherrod earned her bachelor's degree and a master's degree in organizational leadership. She is pursuing another master's degree, this time in criminal justice.

Despite her introverted nature, her trainer, Otis Leverette once said:

“She’s introverted, but she has this huge, marketable, charismatic, amazing personality,” Leverette said. “The world is just starting to see it.”

Driven by a passion for learning new things, Sherrod admits that she is not particularly fond of the schooling process.

“I love learning new things,” Sherrod said [h/t Yahoo]. “It’s the process of school that I’m not a big fan of. But it does make it easier when you’re studying things you’re passionate about.”

Sherrod’s dedication to basketball led her to pursue a college career, with her eyes set on Tennessee. She ultimately received a scholarship from Colorado, the only Power Five school to extend her an offer.