Monis named NSAA Player of the Year, Wagner chosen as Coach of the Year

WATERTOWN, S.D. - The North Star Star Athletic Association (NSAA) released the 2021-22 men's basketball All-Conference awards and postseason honors at the honors banquet on Friday night. 

Viterbo shared the NSAA Men's Basketball regular-season title with a 9-5 record each. This was Viterbo's first regular-season title as a member of the North Star. 

Jack Monis was named the league's Player of the Year based on his junior season. In 2021-22, Monis started in 24 games. He scored a team-high 420 points in the season and scored his 1,000th career point on February 18 against Waldorf. He shot a career-high 55.7 percent from the field. Monis had a career and team-high of 195 rebounds and racked up 25 assists and 19 steals. Monis also received First Team-All Conference honors based on his performance. He was also named to the 2020-21 NSAA All-Conference First Team.  

Head Coach Wayne Wagner was named conference Coach of the Year. This marks Wagner's first honor as NSAA Coach of the Year. Viterbo was initially picked to finish tied for fifth in the 2021-22 NSAA Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll, but the V-Hawks prevailed, finished tied for first. The V-Hawk men finished with an overall record of 15-12.

Brady Polk was chosen to the All-Conference Second Team. In 2021-22, Polk was second in team scoring 396 points. He finished second on the team in free throw percentage at 77.9 percent, with two important free throws to send the V-Hawks on from the NSAA Quarterfinal game. Polk had a team-high 28 steals and also led the team in assists with 90. He also finished second on the team in rebounds with 137 total rebounds. 

Robert Cunitz received Honorable Mention honors in the conference. Cunitz also scored his 1,000th career point in the February 18 game against Waldorf. He scored 372 points in the 2021-22 season and was third on the team in three-point percentage at 34.4 percent. Cunitz converted a team-high 52 three-pointers on the season.  

V-Hawk senior Greg Cano was named the team's Champion of Character recipient. 

The No. 1 V-Hawks will face No. 5 Dakota State on Saturday, February 26 at 6:00 pm CST at the Civic Arena in Watertown, S.D. The live stream of the game can be found here. Follow the action on viterboathletics.com or by following us on social media.