Thursday, March 1st saw the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association hand out the year end awards to the best collegiate men's basketball players in Ontario prior to the start of the 2018 OCAA Championship being hosted by the Niagara College Knights in Welland.
The OCAA's No. 6 ranked Knights were well represented as third year guard Van Hutchinson Jr (Nassau) and fourth year wing Levi Mukuna (Hamilton) were both selected as OCAA second team all-stars. This marks Hutchinson Jr.'s second all-star nod, while Mukuna earns the accolade for the first time.
Mukuna, a former ACMT standout, has enjoyed a breakout season for the Knights. The six-foot-four wing player is averaging a team high 18.8 points-per-game, while also contributing 8.1 rebounds per contest. Mukuna is in the final year of the Niagara College business sale and marketing program.
Hutchinson Jr. was named a first-team all-star in 2016-17. The dynamic guard followed up last year's campaign, with another stellar season, finishing with 17 point and a team high 11 rebounds per game. Hutchinson Jr. is currently enrolled in the Niagara College fitness and health promotion program
The Knights will open the 2018 OCAA men's basketball championship on Thursday, March 1st at 6:00pm at the Welland Campus athletic centre when the team hosts the OCAA's top ranked Seneca Sting. The winner of the quarterfinal matchup advances to medal round, while the loser relegated to the consolation games. Niagara and Seneca did not meet during the 2017-18 season.