After a historic regular season that included a Big Sky record 16-0 start to conference play, record-tying 18-game overall winning streak and the fifth regular season Big Sky Championship in program history, Eastern Washington men’s basketball was recognized with several 2022-23 Big Sky Conference honors announced March 3.
Guard Steele Venters was named Most Valuable Player and head coach David Riley earned Coach of the Year. Additionally, guard Angelo Allegri was named to the All-Conference First Team and forward Ethan Price earned All-Conference Honorable Mention.
On the women’s side, in her first season in Cheney, Jamie Loera has earned 2022-23 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, the conference announced March 1. The graduate transfer also earned a spot on the All-Big Sky third team.
Joining Loera on the third team is Jaydia Martin, who gets her second career All-Big Sky honor after earning an honorable mention last season.
Jacinta Buckley earns her second postseason award from the conference with an All-Big Sky honorable mention.
Venters’ honor is the fifth time in seven years, and seventh time overall, that the Big Sky’s top individual accolade has been awarded to Eastern Washington. He joins Tanner Groves (2021), Mason Peatling (2020), Bogdan Bliznyuk (2018), Jacob Wiley (2017), Rodney Stuckey (2006) and Alvin Snow (2004).
Eastern has now won Coach of the Year six times, including once by each of the program’s last three head coaches; Riley worked under both Shantay Legans (2020 winner) and Jim Hayford (2015). Ray Giacoletti earned the honor in 2004 after Steve Aggers won twice in 2000 and 1998.
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