Alberta's Ben Krikke and Aher Uguak receive Missouri Valley Conference honours

Alberta Basketball Association (ABA) alumni and Ben Krikke and Aher Uguak were honoured Tuesday (March 1) when the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) announced its 2021-22 season honours.

A junior forward at Valparaiso, Krikke was named to the All-MVC Third Team for the second consecutive season, while Loyola-Chicago senior forward Uguak earned selection to the MVC All-Defensive Team for the second year in a row.

Krikke ranks ninth in the MVC with a scoring average of 14.5 points per game, and is just 45 points short of reaching 1,000 for his NCAA career. He is just one of four players in the conference shooting above 50 percent from the field and over 80 percent from the free-throw line, ranking third in the league in field goal percentage at 53.9 and fifth in free-throw percentage at 84.3.

 Capable of guarding players at all five positions, the six-foot-seven Uguak has been an important part of a Loyola defensive unit that has ranked among the nation’s best in each of the last four years. Uguak has recorded 15 steals and a career-high nine blocks through 28 games this college basketball season. He’s also averaging personal-bests of 9.1 points and 4.3 rebounds.

“ABA is thrilled to see Aher and Ben honoured for a second straight year by a league as prestigious as the MVC,” says Paul Sir, ABA Executive Director. “This recognition is well deserved for two student-athletes that are models both on and off the court.

“Aher and Ben serve as an inspiration for youth in our province and demonstrate the what can be accomplished through hard work, commitment, and dedication. It gives us great pride to have been part of their basketball journeys”

Krikke and Uguak both played their entire high school careers in Edmonton. Krikke graduated from Jasper Place in 2019 and Uguak is part of Harry Ainlay’s class of 2016.

Krikke spent four years with Alberta Basketball’s provincial teams, winning a silver medal with Team Alberta at the 2017 Canada Summer Games. Uguak was part Alberta Basketball’s provincial program for three years, suiting up for Team Alberta 15U in 2012 and 2013, and 17U in 2014.

Loyola and Valparaiso are part of the MVC Tournament which runs Thursday (March 3) through Sunday (March 6). Valparaiso plays an opening-round game against Evansville Thursday, and Loyola is set for a quarterfinal round game against Bradley on Friday.

Congratulations to Aher and Ben, and good luck in the MVC Tournament!