OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Johnson County forward Jaland Whitehead has been selected to the NJCAA Men's Division II Basketball All-America third-team for the 2020-21 season after helping lead the Cavaliers to a 16-6 record, conference and region titles and a berth in the NJCAA D-II National Tournament . He was a third-team selection and becomes the 20th NJCAA All-American in team history, and the first for head coach Rand Chappell.. Earlier this year he was also selected as first-team All-Kansas Jayhawk D-II Conference and first-team All-Region VI/Plains District, and became just the second player in team history to be named league's top defensive player.
This season, Whitehead became just the 10th player all-time and first since 2001-02 to average a double-double in points (14.0) and rebounds (11.4). He scored in double figures in 15 games, had 16 games with 10+ rebounds and had 13 double-doubles. His 16 games with double digit rebounds ties the fourth-best season in team history, and hit 13 double-doubles tie for fifth in a season at JCCC.
Whitehead led D-II Kansas Jayhawk Conference in total rebounds (250) and in rebound average, and those total ranked third and sixth respectively in the NJCAA. He also ranked second in the conference and 11th nationally with 35 blocked shots. He shot 55.3 percent from the floor which was fourth-best in the KJCCC.
At nationals, Whitehead averaged 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in their two games. In the consolation loss to Southeast, Whitehead led JCCC with 23 points. That total tie the fifth-best game by a JCCC player in national tournament play.
"I am extremely proud of Jaland for the work he put in this year, and what he has accomplished," said Chappell. "Averaging a double-double alone speaks to the consistency and effort he put into each game this season. When you top that off with being the defensive player of the year in our conference, he had a tremendously positive impact on our season. We look forward to his continued progress and successes in the future."
Whitehead came to JCCC after playing his freshman campaign at Labette Community College in Parsons, Kan. That season, he averaged 8.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in 20 games played. He scored in double figures eight times, topped double digits in rebounds four times and had four double-doubles.