Six members of Waubonsee Community College's men's basketball program were recognized with post-season accolades. Headlining the Chiefs' honorees was sophomore Joey Niesman who was named an NJCAA Division II Second Team All-American. The Oswego native was also selected to both the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) First Team and All-Region 4 First Team. Teammate Jaylyn Kelley was chosen All-ISCC Second Team and All-Region Second Team, while center Brice Langford, forward Colton Schutt and point guard Duane Doss were each named All-ISCC Honorable Mention. In addition, Waubonsee head coach Lance Robinson was tabbed the Region 4 Division II District B Coach of the Year and an Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Co-Coach of the Year.
Niesman, an Oswego High School graduate, led Waubonsee in scoring with an 18.3 points-per-game (ppg) average. The 6'2" guard finished in the top-50 among all NJCAA Division II players in nine different categories including ranking ninth in field goals made (242), 11th in total points (642), 12th in steals (78) and 16th nationally in assists (162). Niesman averaged 4.6 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game, shot 45 percent from the field overall and nailed 61 three-point baskets on the season. In addition, he was named to the Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 26.7 ppg in the Chiefs' title run as the four-seed. Niesman scored in double figures in 31 of 35 games he played, including 21 straight to close out the season. He played his best in the biggest games, averaging 22.7 ppg in the Chiefs' 6 post-season games. Niesman joined Waubonsee's 1,000 Point Club in February and finished his Chiefs' career with 1,154 points over 68 games played, an average of 17.0 ppg every time he stepped on the court.
Kelley was among the top three-point shooters in the country finishing third nationally with 102 baskets from beyond the arc. A graduate of Wauwatosa West High School just west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the 6'1" guard averaged 14.5 ppg, and shot 41.3 percent from three-point range and a team-leading 84.2 from the foul line during the season. In conference play Kelley excelled even more as he averaged 15.9 ppg and shot 94.1 percent from the foul line, making 32 of 34 free throw attempts in the Chiefs' 14 ISCC games.
Langford, a product of Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, averaged 10.5 ppg and 9.3 rebounds per contest. The Chiefs' 6'10" big man also blocked 65 shots, the 10th most among all NJCAA Division II players, and shot 47.8 percent from the floor overall. For the season Langford hauled down 111 offensive rebounds and snagged 222 defensive boards for a total of 333 rebounds overall.
Schutt, who often came off the bench as the Chiefs' sixth man, averaged 7.9 ppg while also serving as a defensive stopped for Coach Robinson's squad. The Yorkville Christian High School alumnus also shot 43.2 percent from the field, connected on 24 three-point shots and handed out 70 assists, an average of 2.1 per game.
Doss, who moved into Waubonsee's point guard role about a third of the way into the season, averaged 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals a game on the season. The 5'10" freshmen from south suburban Beecher shot 45.2 percent from floor and made 42 three-pointers, while averaging 13.1 ppg in 14 conference contests.
Robinson, in his third full season leading the Chiefs' program, guided his team to a second straight campaign of 20 or more wins. He directed Waubonsee to a 26-10 record overall, Region 4 Championship and a berth in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament for the first time since 2017. Along the way the unranked Chiefs defeated three straight nationally-ranked opponents and nearly upended a fourth despite overwhelming odds. Robinson will be honored by the IBCA at the 51st annual Coach of the Year Luncheon on May 6, 2023 at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena in Normal, Illinois.
The Chiefs went 9-5 in conference play to finish third in the ISCC standings and were then seeded fourth in the Region 4 Tournament. The Chiefs captured the title by knocking off fifth-ranked and top-seeded South Suburban College, the defending National Champions, 70-59 in the Semi-finals. Waubonsee then rallied to topple 14th ranked Bryant & Stratton (WI) College 77-73 in the title game and advance to the National Tournament for the first time under Robinson's leadership. Appearing in the 16-team, double elimination tournament for seventh time in program history, the 12th seeded Chiefs upset fifth-seeded Iowa Lakes Community College in the first round. The following day Waubonsee fell to the fourth-seed and host school Danville Area (IL) Community College 83-78. The Chiefs were eliminated from the tournament 16 hours later when they lost to top ranked and top-seeded Davidson Davie (NC) Community College 66-54. Among all NJCAA Division II teams the Chiefs finished in the top-20 in five statistical categories by ranking 6th in total three-point baskets made (311), 11th in total field goals made (1,120), 17th in defensive rebounds (29.9) per contest, 17th in rebound margin (10.5) per game, and 19th in total rebounds (42.5) per contest.
Joey Niesman Jaylyn Kelley Brice Langford
Colton Schutt Duane Doss Head Coach Lance Robinson