2026 Senior Day Gallery
CEDAR HILL, Texas - The University of North Texas at Dallas Athletics Department recognized its seniors from the dance, women's basketball, and men's basketball teams on Saturday between basketball games at Trinity Leadership Public School.
Eryn Kinard
This is Eryn's first year on the team. She will be graduating with her Bachelor's degree in Communication and Digital Media, with a minor in Rhetoric and Writing Studies. Eryn's unforgettable laughter and joyful bounce have brought light and energy to the team. She is being escorted by her mom, Tamra Kemp
Tamia Jackson
Tamia is a four-year veteran and one of the founders of The Blazerettes dance team. Since the start of the team in 2022, she has proudly served as Captain. A fierce woman who slays both the looks and the moves that define what a Blazerette should be, Tamia is also a leader whose passion was truly brought to life through this organization. She has set the standard for excellence, dedication, and strength. She will be graduating with her Bachelor's degree in Business Analysis, with a minor in Management. She is being escorted by her parents Tameika and Tarik Jackson.
#32 Sanaa Murphy-Showers
A guard from Plano, Texas, Murphy-Showers has been part of the UNT Dallas women's basketball team for three seasons. She has accumulated 71 games played in and has posted 296 points, 216 rebounds, 129 assists, 26 blocks, and 51 steals. Murphy-Showers twice scored a career-high 12 points, including this season at Texas A&M-San Antonio.
Murphy-Showers is an honoree on the UNT Dallas Athletic Director's List.
Murphy-Showers is majoring in Biology.
#44 Kaylyn Minor
A forward from Garland, Texas, Minor has been part of the UNT Dallas women's basketball team all four years. She combined to play in 44 games, scored 283 points, grabbed 231 rebounds, 16 blocks, and 27 steals. This season, Minor earned a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards at University of the Southwest. She also notched the game-winning layup with one second left at Paul Quinn for the Trailblazers' first victory this season.
Minor is a two-time honoree on the UNT Dallas Athletic Director's List.
Minor is majoring in Criminal Justice.
#11 Allysa Pendley
A forward from Waco, Texas, Pendley has suited up four seasons with UNT Dallas women's basketball. She has played 65 games and been a staple to the front court offense and defense for the Trailblazers over her playing career. Pendley set the standard for UNTD in rim protection, as she logged a record setting five blocks against Science and Arts on December 3, 2022. Pendley also holds records in this category for a single season in 2022-23 with 35 and career, as she has 80 today. Overall, Pendley has posted 258 points and 319 rebounds. Pendley logged career-highs with 17 points and 13 rebounds at Louisiana Christian earlier this year.
Pendley is a three-time honoree on the UNT Dallas Athletic Director's List.
Pendley is majoring in Psychology.
#3 ShanDrea Yeldell
A guard from Dallas, Texas, Yeldell has been part of the UNT Dallas women's basketball team for three seasons. She was part of the inaugural season in 2020-21 and returned in 2025 and immediately became a starting point guard that has shown leadership both on and off the court. Yeldell entered today having played 38 games with the Trailblazers. She has accumulated 402 points, 140 rebounds, 177 assists, and 147 steals in that same span. Yeldell leads the Red River Athletic Conference in assists this season. Yeldell is in the program record book for single-game highs in steals with 13 and assists with nine. Yeldell scored a career-high 30 points at Our Lady of the Lake University this season. Yeldell also was named RRAC Defensive Player of the Week for games on Jan. 5-11 this season.
Yeldell also played at Dallas College Cedar Valley, where she earned National Junior College Athletic Association Division III or NJCAA Division III Third Team All-American, Dallas Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Conference.
Yeldell is majoring in Communications.
#4 Orion Virden
A guard from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Virden joined UNT Dallas in the spring semester of 2025. Virden made his Trailblazers' debut in 2026 and has made the most of it by surpassing double-digits in five-of-eight games played in. Virden has totaled 77 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Virden scored a personal-high 16 points at Jarvis Christian. Virden has been a support warrior for the team and his dedication never wavered as Virden demonstrated perseverance to begin his UNTD time in crunch time.
Virden has been named to the UNT Dallas Athletic Director's List.
Orion Virden is majoring in Criminal Justice as a Post Bachelorette Second Degree.
#12 Julius Morris
A guard from Houston, Texas, Morris played two seasons with UNT Dallas. Morris has played 32 games with the Trailblazers. He has compiled 56 points, 22 rebounds, 15 assists, and seven steals. Morris has been a great member of the UNTD program.
In 2022-23, Morris was a member of Marion Military Institute, which reached the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Final Four.
Morris has been named to the UNT Dallas Athletic Director's List.
Julius Morris is majoring in Accounting and General Business.
#13 DaRyan Williams
A guard/forward from Austin, Texas, Williams played two seasons as a member of UNT Dallas. Williams has combined for 27 games played with the Trailblazers. In one season, Williams is the other player averaging double-digits with 10.0 points-per-game. He has combined for 263 points, 187 rebounds, 20 steals, 44 assists during his UNTD career. Williams is the team leader in blocks with 28 and tied the single-game record for blocks with six against Our Lady of the Lake last month.
In 2021-22 and 2022-23, Williams was a member of Dallas College North Lake. In his second season with North Lake, Williams earned Most Improved Player for the conference and claimed all-conference and Player of the Week accolades for his time in Dallas Athletic Conference.
Williams has been named to Sooner Athletic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll and Academic All-SAC Teams. He is a four-time honoree on the UNT Dallas Athletic Director's List.
Williams is majoring in Criminal Justice.
#24 Greg Crawford
A guard/forward from Houston, Texas, Crawford has made his mark on the UNT Dallas men's basketball program in two seasons. Crawford has played 43 games overall and has been the team's leading scorer in both campaigns. Crawford boasts 883 points with the Trailblazers and has averaged a double-double with 15.6 points and 10.2 rebounds this year. Crawford ranks seventh in the nation for rebounding average and is atop the Red River Athletic Conference. Crawford also leads the team in assists this season with 63 and steals with 27.
Crawford has combined for 26 double-doubles in the pair of UNTD seasons. He has rewritten the program record books for total points, free throws made, and rebounds in a single season in 2024-25. This season against Texas College on January 8, Crawford broke a single-game record 23 rebounds. Crawford was named Sooner Athletic Conference Second Team last year and has the most weekly conference awards by a Trailblazer with three in his career. This includes consecutive weeks by the Red River Athletic Conference with defensive and offensive player of the week nods in the middle of January.
Crawford has earned Sooner Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete, SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, and Academic All-SAC Team. He is a three-time honoree on the UNT Dallas Athletic Director's List.
Crawford earned his Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences and is pursuing his Masters as a Business Administration Major.
#1 Demaryon Thornton
A guard from Chicago, Illinois, Thornton played four seasons with the UNT Dallas men's basketball program. His journey began in 2021-22 when the program began the first year affiliated with the NAIA and Sooner Athletic Conference. After another game with above 20 games in 2022-23, Thornton was away until he returned in 2025 to finish the second half of the campaign with UNTD. His final year this year has been one of leadership for the Trailblazers, as he also has been able to play alongside his brother
Dreyon Thornton this season. Thornton amassed 90 games for his career, making him the elder statesman for the Trailblazers. Thornton has logged 639 career points and made 116 three-pointers, which is the active career record as Thornton claimed the feat at the end of last season. Thornton has logged 198 rebounds, 98 assists, and 56 steals over his career.
Thornton is a two-time honoree on the UNT Dallas Athletic Director's List.
Thornton is majoring in Finance.
