The 2021-22 Canada West (CW) men's basketball all-star and all-rookie teams were announced by the conference on Thursday, with two Bisons being selected for their exceptional play.
Fifth-year forward James Wagner was selected to the CW First Team while first-year guard Mason Kraus was selected to the All-Rookie Team.
Wagner, 23, is a conference all-star for the third time in his career after being named to the Third Team in 2019-20 and the All-Rookie Team in 2016-17.
The John Taylor Pipers alum was the Bisons' go-to performer on both ends of the court in 2021-22. Wagner averaged 16.8 points on 51.8% shooting, 7.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.4 blocks per game while playing the sixth-most minutes in the conference (539). The 6-7 forward finished the season playing his best basketball too, scoring over 20 points in three of his last five appearances.
In the classroom, Wagner was named an Academic All-Canadian for the fifth straight year (2020-21) and will graduate this year with a degree in Human Genetics (Science).
"It's outstanding news that James is a First Team All-Star," said Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp.
"The selection is a great capper on what's been an outstanding career for him as a Bison. James has been a key player for all five years, has been a winner all his time here, has been a model student-athlete and we're really happy that he's getting this recognition."
Starting all 16 games in his rookie campaign, Kraus emerged as a two-way player for Manitoba. He ranked sixth in the conference in total steals (34) while averaging 9.2 points on 34.6% shooting, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
"Mason was an impact rookie for us this year and someone who has all the signs of becoming a star player in our league," said Schepp.
"He showed steady trajectory on his improvement throughout his rookie year, which is evident and a testament to how hard he's working on his game every day. We look forward to him being an all-star for years to come."
Manitoba finished their regular season 7-9 in conference play and begin playoffs tonight, as they play the UBC Okanagan Heat at 9 p.m. in Lethbridge, Alberta.
2021-22 CW Men's Basketball All-Stars
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
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
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
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