MBB: Top teams' leaders score big in All-Star votes
Canada West announces its men's basketball all-star teams
CALGARY — Experience matters. That much was proven in the unveiling of Canada West's men's basketball all-stars Thursday. The conference released its first team all-stars, second team all-stars, third team all-stars and all-rookie team.
1st Team All-Stars
A group of veterans headline the first team this year, hailing from universities in each of CW's four provinces. The perfect Alberta Golden Bears rostered two selections (guard duo Tyus Jefferson and Geoffrey James) while the near-perfect Victoria Vikes saw four honourees (fifth-year Scott Kellum, second-year Diego Maffia and rookies Ethan Boag and Elias Ralph).
Ben Hillis represents his third-ranked Regina Cougars while Grant Audu led his UBC Thunderbirds to fifth in the conference. The defensive-savy, versatile James Wagner (Manitoba Bisons) rounded out the top picks.
These all-stars will now look to add "CW Champions" to their already impressive resumes. That work begins tonight with the 17-team single knock-out playoff tournament that will decide the Final Four.
Full playoff details, results and recaps here.
POSITION / NAME / UNIVERSITY / YEAR / PROGRAM / HOMETOWN
First Team All-Stars
G / Grant Audu / British Columbia / 4 / Arts / Toronto, ON
G / Ben Hillis / Regina / 5 / Business Admin. / Regina, SK
G / Tyus Jefferson / Alberta / 5 / Arts / Riverton, UT
G / Scott Kellum / Victoria / 5 / Business / Issaquah, WA
F / James Wagner / Manitoba / 5 / Science / Winnipeg, MB
POSITION / NAME / UNIVERSITY / YEAR / PROGRAM / HOMETOWN
Second Team All-Stars
G / Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath / Trinity Western / 5 / Business / Amarillo, TX
G / Geoffrey James / Alberta / 3 / Open Studies / Edmonton, AB
G / Diego Maffia / Victoria / 2 / Humanities / Victoria, BC
G / Nathan Petrone / Mount Royal / 2 / Health & Phys. Ed. / Calgary, AB
G / Marquavian Stephens / Saskatchewan / 3 / Arts & Science / Flint, MI
POSITION / NAME / UNIVERSITY / YEAR / PROGRAM / HOMETOWN
Third Team All-Stars
F / Mason Foreman / Calgary / 4 / Kinesiology / East Selkirk, MB
F / Carter Millar / Regina / 4 / Arts / Regina, SK
G / Anthony Tsegakele / Brandon / 2 / Arts / Gatineau, QC
G / Noah Wharton / Calgary / 2 / Science / Brampton, ON
G / James Woods / British Columbia / 3 / Arts / Surrey, BC
POSITION / NAME / UNIVERSITY / YEAR / PROGRAM / HOMETOWN
All-Rookie Team
F / Sultan Haider Bhatti / Brandon / 1 / Business Admin. / Laval, QC
F / Ethan Boag / Victoria / 1 / Social Sciences / Victoria, BC
G / Mason Kraus / Manitoba / 1 / General Studies / Winnipeg, MB
G / Elias Ralph / Victoria / 1 / Humanities / Okotoks, AB
G / Aiden Smith / Calgary / 1 / Arts / Calgary, AB
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