VICTORIA - The University of Victoria men's basketball team earned two Canada West major awards on Feb. 26, with
Ethan Boag earning top honours as Player of the Year and
Geoffrey James taking home Defensive Player of the Year. Three Vikes were also named to the Canada West All-Star teams: Boag (First Team),
Shadynn Smid (Second Team) and
Renoldo Robinson (Third Team).
Boag earns Player of the Year
A fifth-year standout from Victoria, British Columbia, and a graduate of Claremont Secondary School, Boag has grown into one of the premier players in Canada West. His rise to the top of the conference has been anything but overnight. Arriving during the uncertainty of the 2020 season, he earned his minutes as a rookie and steadily expanded his role each year—never the flashiest player on the floor, but increasingly one of the most important.
A key piece of the Vikes' 2024-25 national championship team, he's elevated his game again this season, starting every contest and averaging a career best 14.3 points per game and sporting a sharp 45.9 FG% while also shooting 37% from three point range.
His best performance came on Nov. 7, 2025, when he poured in 30 points against the University of British Columbia. But Boag's impact stretches far beyond the box score. At 6-foot-9 with 17 blocks on the season, he brings imposing size to the floor, pairing it with a consistent touch beyond the arc and the ability to create for others—making him a threat from anywhere and a reliable presence on both ends of the court.
On a roster stacked with talent, standing out isn't easy. Boag has done just that, emerging as a leader on the second-ranked team in the country. He becomes just the fifth UVic men's basketball player to earn the honour, following former teammate
Diego Maffia, who claimed back-to-back awards in 2023 and 2024.
"Ethan has grown so much over the past two seasons. Last year, he went from a role player to a pivotal piece of our offence, and this year, he took another step forward, becoming our go-to guy on offence. Above being able to score down low and beyond the arc, his passing and leadership abilities have grown, and he has really turned into a complete player for us," said head coach
Murphy Burnatowski.
James recognized as top defender
For the third straight season, the men's basketball team boasts the Canada West Defensive Player of the Year, further proof that defence defines champions.
Fifth-year guard
Geoffrey James of Edmonton, Alberta, took the long road to Vancouver Island, with stops at SAIT, the University of Alberta and the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) before finding his home at UVic last season. Along the way, James battled significant injuries, including a ruptured achilles tendon; however, despite it all, James didn't miss a beat.
This season, James cemented himself as one of the nation's elite guards. He ranks third in the conference with 42 steals, routinely shutting down the opponent's top perimeter threat. A steady, veteran presence, James sets the tone defensively with anticipation, toughness, and poise, captaining a defensive group that limited opponents to just 71.9 points per game, the second lowest mark in the conference
"The old saying, defence wins championships remains true to this day. Geoffrey has been one of the best on-ball defenders in the country for as long as he has been playing U SPORTS. The only surprising part of him winning this award is that it's taken this long," continued Burnatowski. "His combination of strength, speed, and length makes him a tough opponent for anyone to score on, but more importantly, his ability to lock in on the defensive gameplan and follow through is what really separates him from the pack.
The Vikes take on the University of British Columbia in the Canada West gold medal game on Friday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. at CARSA Performance Gym. Both teams have already clinched their berth to the U SPORTS Final 8.
2026 CANADA WEST MAJOR AWARDS :
Player of the Year –
Ethan Boag
Defensive Player of the Year –
Geoffrey James
2026 CANADA WEST ALL-STARS:
First All-Star Team:
Ethan Boag
Second All-Star Team:
Shadynn Smid
Third All-Star Team:
Renoldo Robinson
