KFBCA Top 11: LaJames White
KFBCA Top 11: St. James Academy back LaJames White, #34 (Photo by Jason Burritt, Bay's Creek Photo)
The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams December 6th and 7th, including their Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out St. James Academy running back/defensive back LaJames White's capsule below and check back for more capsules throughout the week.
LaJames White, RB/DB, 5-8, 186, St. James Academy, Sr.
A unique set of circumstances not only helped deliver LaJames White to a new school for his senior season, but it also helped deliver St. James Academy their first state football championship. After an impressive run at KC Piper, White made the move to St. James as a result of concerns the Pirates might not have a season due to coronavirus restrictions, and clearly, White made the most of that move.
At 5-8, 186 pounds, White is built like a fireplug and has the vision and speed to make even the most disciplined tackle attempts fail. Through 12 games White recorded 2,098 yards of offense and found his way into the end zone 33 times.
Numbers alone, even as impressive as White’s, sometimes fail to tell the full story of how important a player is to a team. In White’s case, 17 of his 33 touchdowns came in the playoffs, showing that even the stiffest of competition and biggest games couldn’t slow him down and, in fact, accelerated his pace. White’s success led to numerous All-State nods including a spot on the KFBCA Top 11 team.
Besides being an offensive star, White plays defensive back and and seldom takes off a snap. He finished his senior season with 48 total tackles, four interceptions and five fumble recoveries.
“Plays every snap of the game, plays with great passion,” coach Tom Radke said.
As an example of White’s ability to impact the game from different spots on the field, he managed to block a crucial Bishop Miege extra point attempt in overtime of the semfinal playoff game. Then he scored the tying touchdown before a Josh Kirby PAT kick ended Miege’s run of championship game dominance and sent the Thunder to the title game.
But White saved his best for last rushing for 264 yards and a whopping five touchdowns as the Thunder downed Ark City 56-34 in the 4A championship.
White put an exclamation mark on an exceptional season with his December 15th commitment to play football at the Air Force Academy, joining Shawnee Mission Northwest’s Ty Black and Norton’s Christien Hawks as Kansans signing with the Falcons.
The KFBCA Top 11* and All-State selections consist of seniors from the Class of 2021 nominated and voted on by members of the Kansas Football Coaches Association. For more info about the KFBCA find them online at www.kfbca.com.
*There are actually 12 Top 11 selections this year because of a tie in voting.