BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Three Western Washington University men's basketball players were selected to the 2022-23 GNAC All-Conference Team.

 

The WWU trio was led by GNAC Freshman of the Year BJ Kolly and second-team selections D'Angelo Minnis and Kai Johnson. Kolly also received votes to earn honorable mention All-GNAC honors.

 

Kolly (Everett, WA/Mariner HS) became the first Viking to earn the Freshman of the Year award in the 24-year history of the conference, producing a dominating redshirt freshman campaign in 2022-23. The forward started all 28 games averaging 10.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots per game, while shooting 63.9-percent (129-for-202) from the field. Amongst GNAC leaders, Kolly led the conference in both field goal percentage and blocked shots, while ranking 6th in rebounding and 21st in scoring. Kolly also earned votes as an honorable mention All-GNAC selection. In the WWU single-season record book, Kolly's field goal percentage is No. 4 and blocked shot averaged is No. 7.

Minnis (Kent, WA/Kentwood HS) became a three-time member of the All-GNAC team, earning honorable mention honors last season and as a redshirt freshman in 2019-20. The guard led the Vikings averaging 14.3 points per game while starting all 28 contests in 2022-23, also contributing team-best marks in assists (3.1/game) and steals (1.0/game). Minnis combined to shoot 49.3-percent from the field (149-for-302) while connecting on 60 three-pointers (.444/60-for-135). Amongst GNAC leaders Minnis ranked 6th in scoring and assists, 3rd in three-point field goal percentage, 4th in minutes played (33.3/game) and 18th in field goal percentage. In 83 career games as a Viking, Minnis is one of 27 players in program history to score 1,000 points, ranking 22nd with 1,081 points (13.0 points/game). In addition to his three All-GNAC awards, Minnis was the 2022 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year. Minnis will graduate from WWU this spring and have one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Johnson (Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) earned his first All-GNAC honor after a standout sophomore season. The guard filled up the stat sheet averaging 12.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and nearly a block and steal per game in 2022-23. Johnson ranked in the top 20 in the GNAC in several statistical categories, including assists (7th), rebounds (10th), scoring (11th), field goal percentage (14th, .524/132-for-252), free throw percentage (14th, .681/77-for-113) and blocked shots (15th).

The Vikings finished the 2022-23 season with a 15-13 overall record (.536), marking the 15th consecutive season the program has finished at .500 or above. WWU placed just outside of earning a postseason berth to the GNAC Championships finishing 7th with an 8-10 conference mark.

 

Montana State Billings senior guard Carrington Wiggins was voted as the GNAC Player of the Year, Brandon Bunn of Saint Martin's earned Newcomer of the Year honors, Bilal Shabazz of MSUB was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year and Mick Durham of MSUB was named the Coach of the Year. Saint Martin's and Montana State Billings, the No. 1-2 teams in the conference standings, each had two first-team selections to the All-GNAC team.

 

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, WWU has recorded a 20-win season in eight of the last 11 seasons. WWU is a six-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion and has appeared in the NCAA II Elite 8 three times. The Vikings won the 2012 NCAA Division II National Championship and advanced the following season to the NCAA II Final Four. Western has 20-win seasons in three of the last four years (and seven of nine) and won the 2020 GNAC Championships Tournament. WWU is the 12th winningest Division II program with its 1,543 all-time victories. Head coach Tony Dominguez is in his 10th season and 11th year as the Vikings head coach (28th overall at WWU).