Angola-Rodas named first-team All-America

In a year of firsts for the North Idaho College men’s basketball program — first unbeaten regular season, as well as first trip to nationals since 1997 — the Cardinals picked up another on Thursday.

Braian Angola-Rodas, NIC’s 6-foot-6 sophomore guard, was named to the NJCAA Division I All-America first team, and teammate BJ Blake was named to the third team, the association announced.

It’s the first time in school history two NIC men’s players were selected to the All-America team in the same season.

Angola-Rodas finished this season 13th in the nation with 21.4 points per game, and was ninth in total points with 686. He helped the Cardinals to a school record 31-2 finish.

Angola-Rodas joins Greg Wiltjer (1981) and Renado Parker (2009) as first-team selections from NIC.

Blake, a 6-7 guard/forward, signed with Idaho in November and was 17th in scoring with 21.2 points per game and 12th in total points with 678. He was third in the nation in total field goals, connecting on 264 of 511 shots.

Sophomore Tyler Rawson of NJCAA champion Salt Lake, who has verballed to Utah, was named to the third team.

Sophomore guard Tilar Clark (Salt Lake) and sophomore guard Kandiss Barber (Southern Idaho) were named to the women’s first team. CSI sophomore forward Samantha Luebke earned honorable mention.