Oskaloosa–Kevion Blaylock (Sr., Houston, Texas, Information Technology) and Karmari Newman (Sr., Detroit, Mich., Digital Communication) garnered recognition for special campaigns as the NAIA announced its Men’s Basketball All-America teams Thursday.
Blaylock was one of 10 players on the first team, while Newman was one of 43 individuals to receive honorable-mention status. There were an additional 10 players on both the second and third squads as well.
The honors are the second for both Blaylock and Newman, who become just the third and fourth Statesmen cagers to receive multiple All-America awards. They are the 28th and 29th All-Americans in school history and they up Head Coach John Henry‘s total to 26 in his tenure.
It marks the 10th season in a row that WPU has claimed an A-A award. During the current stretch, 19 accolades have been won, highlighted by six first-team laurels.
The duo helped William Penn to a 25-2 record, including Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles.
Blaylock’s season concluded with him topping the navy and gold with a double-double of 16.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He also recorded 74 assists, 21 steals, and 19 blocks, while shooting 59.8% from the field (31.7% 3-PT) and 83.2% from the line. He scored a season-high 35 points versus Central Methodist on February 11 and recorded 13 double-doubles on the year.
Nationally, Blaylock ranked sixth in total rebounds (269), 15th in rebounding average, and 28th in field-goal percentage.
Newman averaged 15.4 points and 3.3 rebounds, while also finishing the season with 42 assists and 28 steals. He shot 44.1% overall, including 36.4% from the three-point arc. The senior, who was 80.9% from the free-throw line, produced a season-best 35 points against Park on February 27.
Newman ended 2020-2021 ranked 18th on the NAIA’s list of three-pointers made with 72.
Kyle Mangas of Indiana Wesleyan was chosen as NAIA Player of the Year, while national champion Shawnee State’s (Ohio) Head Coach Delano Thomas earned Coach of the Year laurels. The NABC-NAIA Coach of the Year award was given to Austin Johnson of Lewis-Clark State (Idaho).
To view the complete teams, click HERE
