Johnson highlights NAIA all-Nebraska team

Omaha World-Herald release

OMAHA, Neb. -- Senior Jelani Johnson was named the captain of the NAIA all-Nebraska Men's Basketball team announced by the Omaha World-Herald on Tuesday, April 24.

Johnson was a first team all-MCAC selection while being named the MCAC Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 12.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. A third team All-American, Johnson paced the Bruins with 120 assists and 49 steals. He also became the 14th player in school history to score 1,000 points, finishing his BU career with 1,071 career points. Johnson finished fifth in school history with 135 career steals and sixth with 322 career assists.

Joining Johnson on the first team included junior James Parrott. The second team All-American led the Bruins in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game, while adding 6.8 rebounds per contest. He ranked second on the team in blocks (38) and steals (39) and finished third in assists with 80.

Junior Richard Shepherd earned second team honors. The Greenville, N.C., native was an all-MCAC team selection and ranked second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He led the Bruins with 90 3-pointers and second in assists (106) and third in steals (38).

For the second consecutive season, senior Ousseynou Diop was named honorable mention NAIA all-Nebraska. He averaged 9.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game and ranked third in NAIA Division II in blocked shots with 81. Diop is the school's all-time leader in blocked shots (316), offensive rebounds (237), defensive rebounds (542) and second in total rebounds (779).

The Bruins finished the season with a 28-6 overall record and a 13-1 MCAC mark, finishing with a No. 7 final national ranking. Bellevue also claimed its third-straight MCAC regular season and tournament titles.

NAIA all-Nebraska Teams
First Team:
G, James Parrott, Bellevue, 18.6
G, Jelani Johnson, Bellevue, 12.4
C, Porter Birtell, Concordia , 17.2
F, Tobin Reinwald, Hastings, 17.5
F, Nick Reed, Doane, 16.8

Second Team:
F, D. Jones, Midland, 10.7
G, Thadd Varmall, York, 15.5
C, Jake Marvin, Hastings, 14.0
G, Derrick Williams, Peru St. , 19.5
G, Richard Shepherd, Bellevue , 15.0

Honorary captain:
Jelani Johnson, Bellevue.

Honorable mention:
Ousseynou Diop, Bellevue; Beau Smith, Concordia; Joshua Riser, Jens Scholl, Doane; B. Imig, Midland; Nick Dinan, Eric Jackson, Trevor Johnson, Nebraska Wesleyan; Richard Oppitz, Peru State; DeAnthony Ellison, Keenan Gaskin, Marcus Johnson, Desmond Strickland, York College.