Is Ridgnal the best player in JUCO?

Is Ridgnal the best player in JUCO?

Cowley College prospect is KJCCC Player of the Year and a double-double machine

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

Arkansas City, KS – Imagine having a season where you consistently averaged a double-double but hardly anyone has noticed?

Let us introduce you to Dalen Ridgnal, from Cowley College in Kansas.

He has flown under the radar most of the season. Not because of anything serious, it has been hard to get noticed during a global pandemic or limited college visibility. However, this has not stopped him.

Ridgnal has been selected the Jayhawk East Most Valuable Player on Thursday by the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. Being selected as an all-conference player, let alone, Player of the Year in the KJCCC is a pretty big deal.

The Tiger forward currently holds offers from Kent State, Mississippi Valley State, Sam Houston, FIU, Cal Poly, Nicholas State, Southern, Murray State and Eastern Michigan. However, as his eighth-seeded Cowley College teams prepares for National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship. The Tigers’ first game will be April 20th at 5:30 Eastern time.

“It is an honor to go to Hutch,” he said. “We’re not the most imposing team out there, but we have a good opportunity to win. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I am really blessed to be put in this position. Not many people are put in this opportunity.”

There are also some players who have not put up the numbers he did this season.

Ridgnal averaged a double-double this season with 20.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game to lead the Jayhawk Conference this season. The Kansas City, Missouri native shot it well from the field at 48 percent and 86 percent from the free throw line, which was third best in the conference. He also was sniper from three-point range at 38 percent. Ridgnal scored a pair of 32 point performances against Colby and Independence.

He also led the KJCCC with 53 blocks and 59 steals. His total of 323 rebounds led the country. He recorded 20 double doubles, including a career-high 20-rebound performance Dodge City. His rebounding led JUCO. The 518 points he amassed were second nationally, while playing for the best JUCO lead in the land.

Those were the personal accomplishments but Ridgnal helped contribute the school history. Cowley College won its first Jayhawk East co-championship with Coffeyville. The Tigers then went on to win the Region IV Tournament and an NJCAA berth for the first-time since 1957.

His road to this level of consistency has been a journey.

The Kansas City, Missouri native had decent seasons at Rockhurst High before heading to now-defunct Lincoln Prep in Georgia. The stop at the prep school humbled him. He was pushed by then head coach Bryan Lippman, who was relentless. The change of scenery helped him change and understand the amount of work needed to be done before achieving greatness.

Ridgnal then went to Cowley because he was relatively under recruited. But once again, the change of scenery helped him lock into basketball.

“When I came here I got with the right coaches to challenge me on and off the court every day,” he said. “There is nothing to really do here. I can just focus on basketball and school.”

This has helped him make an imprint on the program. Ridgnal recorded 20 double-double averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds per game. He was selected to the Third Team NJCAAA Division I All-American, becoming the first freshman All-American in Cowley’s history since Sonny Maynard in the 1955-56.

Ridgnal was named First Team All-Region VI and All Conference selection, the Jayhawk East Freshman of the Year, and was named to the Region VI All-Tournament Team. Cowley earned a spot in the NJCAA tournament last season but because of the global pandemic it was cancelled. 

“These two years have really helped me out,” Ridgnal said. “When I first came here I needed to be a consistent player. I’ve done a much better job the last two years.”

Ridgnal has built a consistent reputation over the last two years. Now, he is looking for an opportunity to carry that consistency into Hutchinson for a national title and for some extra exposure.