By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Four members of the Fort Hays State men’s basketball team were named to the 2021-22 All-MIAA Team on Tuesday (Mar. 1). Jared Vitztum was a first-team selection for the second straight year, while Kaleb Hammeke earned second-team honors and Nyjee Wright was an honorable mention pick. Bjarni Jonsson was one of five players in the conference named to the MIAA All-Defensive Team.
For Vitztum, this is his third consecutive All-MIAA honor. After earning third team honors in 2019-20, he has been a first-team selection in back-to-back seasons (2020-21 and 2021-22). Vitztum is averaging 15.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this season. He leads the MIAA in rebounding and ranks 18th nationally. He is the only player in the conference averaging better than nine rebounds per game. Going into the MIAA Tournament, he ranks ninth in the conference in scoring. Vitztum has 15 double-doubles for the season in points and rebounds, which ranks 11th in the nation, and he is the fifth-best defensive rebounder in the nation at 8.26 per game. Vitztum reached double figures in scoring 23 games and double figures in rebounding 16 games during the regular season.
Hammeke earns an All-MIAA nod for the second-consecutive season. After earning Freshman of the Year and an honorable mention selection last year, Hammeke elevated to a second-team selection this year. He ranks 16th in the MIAA in scoring (14.4 points per game) and sixth in assists per game (3.7). He leads the Tigers in assists (99) and assists per game. He scored in double figures 23 times this year and dished out three or more assists in a game 16 times. He scored 20 or more points in a game six times this season.
Wright earns the first All-MIAA selection of his career at Fort Hays State. Going into the conference tournament, he is averaging 11.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He has reached double figures in scoring 17 times this season with 18 points as his high mark in back-to-back contests against Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Southern. Wright is shooting 43 percent beyond the 3-point line this season, which is best on the team and would rank second in the MIAA if he had enough made to qualify for the list. His 52 made 3-point field goals is best on the team and he also leads the team in free-throw percentage (.839) for players with at least 60 attempts.
Jonsson was voted by coaches as one of the top five defenders in the conference. He has been key for the Tigers in slowing offensive efforts on both the interior and along the perimeter when called upon to do so. Jonsson has helped the Tigers to the best scoring defense in the MIAA at 56.7 points per game, which is second-best in the nation, and the Tigers have the best field goal percentage defense at 40 percent (16th in the nation). Jonsson ranks second for the Tigers in both blocked shots (11) and steals (23), while pulling down 3.3 points per game.
The four all-conference selections for the Fort Hays State men are most since the 2012-13 season, when they were co-champions of the MIAA for the regular season.
2022 MIAA Postseason Awards
Player of the Year – Trevor Hudgins – Northwest Missouri, Junior
Defensive Player of the Year – JaCor Nelson – Central Missouri, Senior
Freshman of the Year – Micheal Keegan – Washburn
Coach of the Year – Bob Hoffman – Central Oklahoma
2022 All-MIAA First Team
Isaiah Wade – Central Oklahoma, Senior
Tray Buchanan – Emporia State, Senior
Jared Vitztum – Fort Hays State, Senior
Trevor Hudgins – Northwest Missouri, Junior
Tyler Geiman – Washburn, Senior
2022 All-MIAA Second Team
Callen Haydon – Central Oklahoma, Junior
Jumah’Ri Turner – Emporia State, Senior
Kaleb Hammeke – Fort Hays State, Redshirt-Freshman
Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri, Junior
Devin Pullum – Rogers State, Senior
2022 All-MIAA Third Team
Camryn Givens – Central Oklahoma, Junior
Will Eames – Missouri Western, Redshirt-Sophomore
David Simental – Nebraska Kearney, Junior
Wes Dreamer – Northwest Missouri, Sophomore
Jalen Lewis – Washburn, Junior
2022 All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Central Missouri: JaCor Nelson, Senior – Gavin Pinkley, Senior – Cameron Hunter, Senior
Central Oklahoma: Jaden Wells, Freshman
Emporia State: Brendan Van Dyke, Senior
Fort Hays State: Nyjee Wright, Senior
Missouri Southern: Stan Scott, Senior – Avery Taggart, Freshman
Missouri Western: JaQuaylon “Q” Mays, Senior
Newman: Israel Barnes, Junior
Northeastern State: Emeka Obukwelu, Graduate
Pittsburg State: Bobby Arthur-Williams, Senior
Rogers State: Brewster Peacock, Senior
2022 MIAA All-Defensive Team
JaCor Nelson – Central Missouri, Senior
Mayuom Buom – Emporia State, Freshman
Bjarni Jonsson – Fort Hays State, Sophomore
Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri, Junior
Tyler Geiman – Washburn, Senior