OGDEN, Utah – Seniors
Brayon Blake and
Victor Sanders have been recognized by the league's coaches as All-Big Sky selections. Blake was named to the first team, while Sanders took home second team honors.
Blake was outstanding for the Vandals this season, averaging 16.6 points and a league-best 9.5 rebounds per game on the year. He stepped his game up in conference play, averaging 18.3 points and 9.6 boards per contest. Blake recorded 11 double-doubles on the season, including seven in Big Sky play.
Blake was named the Big Sky Player of the Week on January 22 after averaging 24 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on a road swing at Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. In 18 conference games, he scored in double-figures 16 times, including eight 20-plus point nights. He grabbed double-digit rebounds on eight occasions.
Sanders earns his third consecutive All-Big Sky recognition, after earning second team honors in 2015-16 and first team honors in 2016-17. Sanders led the Vandals with 19.0 points per game, the fourth best average in the conference. His 570 points are the seventh most in a single season in team history.
Sanders also continued to climb the career rankings at Idaho. He moved into second in program history in scoring, and now has 1785 career points, while his 270 career 3-pointers are also second best. In 18 conference games, he scored in double-figures 16 times, including nine 20-plus point games.
The Vandals have had their best season in recent history, winning 22 regular seasons games for the first time since the 1992-93 season. Idaho finished second in the Big Sky Conference, head coach
Don Verlin's best finish with the team. The Vandals open up Big Sky Tournament play on Thursday at 5:35 p.m, against the winner of Tuesday's Idaho State-Southern Utah matchup.
| 2017-18 Big Sky Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams |
| FIRST TEAM |
| Name |
Position |
Class |
School |
| Bogdan Bliznyuk* |
Guard/Forward |
Senior |
Eastern Washington |
| Andre Spight* |
Guard |
Senior |
Northern Colorado |
| Jerrick Harding* |
Guard |
Sophomore |
Weber State |
| Ahmaad Rorie |
Guard |
Junior |
Montana |
| Brayon Blake |
Forward |
Senior |
Idaho |
|
|
|
|
| SECOND TEAM |
| Name |
Position |
Class |
School |
| Victor Sanders |
Guard |
Senior |
Idaho |
| Michael Oguine |
Guard |
Junior |
Montana |
| Tyler Hall |
Guard |
Junior |
Montana State |
| Justin Strings |
Forward |
Senior |
Sacramento State |
| Geno Crandall |
Guard |
Junior |
North Dakota |
|
|
|
|
| THIRD TEAM |
| Name |
Position |
Class |
School |
| Jamar Akoh |
Forward |
Junior |
Montana |
| Jared Stutzman |
Guard/Forward |
Sophomore |
Idaho State |
| Zach Braxton |
Forward/Center |
Junior |
Weber State |
| Ryan Richardson |
Guard |
Senior |
Weber State |
| Jordan Davis |
Guard |
Junior |
Northern Colorado |
| * Unanimous First Team Selection |
| HONORABLE MENTION |
| Name |
Position |
Class |
School |
| Mason Peatling |
Forward |
Sophomore |
Eastern Washington |
| Brandon Boyd |
Guard |
Sophomore |
Idaho State |
| Harold Frey |
Guard |
Sophomore |
Montana State |
| Brandon Hollins |
Forward |
Senior |
Portland State |
| Bryce Canda |
Guard |
Senior |
Portland State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Individual Award Winners
Most Valuable Player: Bogdan Bliznyuk, Sr., G/F, Eastern Washington
Newcomer of the Year: Andre Spight, Sr., G, Northern Colorado
Freshman of the Year: Holland Woods, Fr., G, Portland State
Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Oguine, Jr., G, Montana
Top Reserve: Brandon Boyd, So., G, Idaho State
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho men's basketball by following the team on twitter, @VandalHoops. Tickets are on sale for what is shaping up to be an exciting season of Vandal basketball, get yours today at GoVandals.com/Tickets.
For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com. Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.
