Victoria's Diego Maffia named CW Player of the Year

CALGARY - Victoria's Diego Maffia has been named the 2023 Canada West Men's Basketball Player of the Year, the conference announced Thursday.

The conference's top regular season team owes much of its success to the stand out guard. Canada West's number two seed, Manitoba sees two major award winners, while Brandon and Alberta each earn a selection as well. ​

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PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Diego Maffia

Maffia has been named the 2022-23 Player of the Year after a phenomenal season with his Victoria Vikes. He led them to the top spot in Canada West, pushing them forward with his outstanding scoring abilities.

Maffia led all Canada West and U SPORTS men's basketball players with 24.9 points per game, using all the tools in his arsenal to get to the basket. The shifty guard shoots daggers from behind the arc and makes lethal cuts to the paint.

He forces the issue, drawing defenders to him and finding open teammates for easy buckets. Maffia was a top-20 assist-getter in the nation. His steady play was apparent everywhere, especially from the free throw line, where he ranked second in the country with a 93.3 per cent average. ​

The scorer seemed to only get better the tougher his opponent was, going off for big games when faced with high-seeded opponents.

Maffia posted the most points in a single game for the 2022-23 season with 43 on Feb. 11 against the fifth-ranked UBC Thunderbirds.

Maffia becomes just the second Vikes player since 2000 to win this esteemed award.

"As a coach there is no greater satisfaction than seeing your players reach their potential and achieve their goals. Diego’s leadership and individual play has been instrumental to our team’s success. He led the conference in points and was also one of the conference leaders in assists. This is a tremendous honour and a testament to Diego’s exceptional skill and dedication to the game. Diego has worked tirelessly to improve and set a standard of excellence for his teammates to follow. We are proud to have Diego to represent our program as this year’s Canada West Player of the Year.”
​-Craig Beaucamp, Head Coach, Victoria Vikes

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Anthony Tsegakele

Anthony Tsegakele earns the prestigious CW Defensive Player of the Year Award after a stellar season that saw him average a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double per game. An absolutely electric player, Tsegakele's work ethic and skill shine every time he hits the court.

The third-year Bobcat averaged the second-most rebounds per game in Canada West this season. His attention to detail and focus allowed him to find ways past defenders to scoop up rebounds, or to knock away balls from even the most talented checks. Tsegakele had 35 steals this year as a forward.

He guarded multiple positions, providing a major challenge to the conference's top offensive players up top and down low. Tsegakele seemed to take it personally, doing all the small things he could to give his team the victory.

The high IQ player led the Bobcats to their best record in over a decade. The three-time CW all-star is showing nothing but promise for the Brandon program.

An aside from this award, Tsegakele also excelled on the offensive side of the court, posting 12 double-doubles in his 20 games. He ranked fourth in the conference in points per game.

"Anthony continues to improve each season here as a Bobcat. He plays with amazing energy on both ends of the floor, and does everything he can to impact winning. Anthony is an elite student-athlete, who is adding to his game and continues to develop each season. Anthony has become an efficient scorer, a much better creator, and yet I still feel he has so much more room to grow. Anthony is able to defended multiple positions, and has been an elite rebounder throughout his career at BU. His ability to switch, pressure, and defend the post as well, makes him a Swiss Army knife on defence. It’s an area of his game that he truly takes pride in, and being a leader for us."
​-Gil Cheung, Head Coach, Brandon Bobcats

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Simon Hildebrandt

Simon Hildebrandt makes history with his Rookie of the Year honour. The Winnipeg, MB product becomes the first Bisons men's basketball player in Canada West history to win the award.

Hildebrandt was a major key to the Bisons' success this season, stepping onto Canada West court like he's lived there for the past four years. The rookie showed poise right away, establishing himself as a major scoring threat and leading his Bisons to the best record in the conference (18-2). That record also made history for the Bisons as the best in the existence of the program.

Hildebrandt averaged 16.5 points per game, sharp shooting 41.2 per cent from beyond the arc. He was steely-nerved under pressure, setting a third Bisons record this season, this time for consecutive free throws.

Hildebrandt excelled in every situation, helping his team overcome deficits or closing out close games. He pushed his Bisons to erase a seven-point lead in the final minute of a game against Brandon in January.

An elite player in just his first season, Hildebrandt is showing Bisons' fans there's much to be excited about.

"We knew coming in that Simon was going to be an impact player for us. I think he's really embraced his role. He's exceeded even our loftiest expectations in terms of what he can bring on a nightly basis. The future is certainly very bright for Simon."
​-Kirby Schepp, Head Coach, Manitoba Bisons

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Adam Paige

Adam Paige has earned the Student-Athlete Community Service Award due to his excellence on the court, in the classroom and in his community. Paige has been a central figure in the Golden Bears' program for the past four years. This season, the forward averaged 14.3 points per game and 6 rebounds per game while shooting over 40 per cent from beyond the arc.

He did this while maintaining a 3.5 GPA in his field of education. Paige is the epitome of a well-rounded student-athlete. His dedication to his studies and athletics do not deter him from finding time to lend a helping hand in his community.

Paige is a volunteer basketball coach for several youth teams in Edmonton, mentoring young athletes who excel under his tutor. He was also a role model to a grade two class that he spent time volunteer student-teaching. Paige further improved his community by packing and delivering food hampers to those in need.

His genuine care for those around him make him an admirable athlete and citizen.

“Adam is an exemplary representative of the University of Alberta, Canada West and U SPORTS athletics. He excels on and off the court. An all-star on a nationally competitive program, Adam is also set to graduate from the Faculty of Education with a 3.5 GPA. On top of that, he’s a willing and keen volunteer, lending a hand wherever and whenever he’s needed. A leader in every sense of the word, Adam truly cares about being a positive influence in his community.”
​-Barnaby Craddock, Head Coach, Alberta Golden Bears

COACH OF THE YEAR: Kirby Schepp

Kirby Schepp has earned the 2022-23 Coach of the Year award after leading his Manitoba Bisons to the best record in the conference (18-2). Schepp created a winning culture, flipping the script on last year's finish (7-10) and this year's preseason polls, which had the team ranked sixth.

Schepp's Bisons set a program record for regular season conference wins. The team boasted a tough defensive scheme that frustrated top offences. They ranked first in the conference in points allowed under Schepp's tutelage.

It’s his first time earning the honour, and the first for the school since 1994-95, when Rick Suffield was named Great Plains Coach of the Year.

Schepp’s 140 wins at the conference level are just 18 shy of tying Suffield for the most, at 158.

“We are so proud to congratulate coach Schepp on his Canada West coach of the year award." “His team has played so well this year, and he fully deserves this accolade! He is a top-quality coach and his commitment to his players and the program is unwavering and inspiring. ​ We are fortunate to have him lead our men’s basketball program.”
​-Gene Muller, Athletic Director, Manitoba Bisons