STANDISH, Maine – The Maine Men's Basketball Coaches & Writers Association (MMBCWA) postseason accolades have been announced and a pair of Saint Joseph's College players have earned honors.
Sophomore guard John Paul Frazier (York, Maine) has claimed First Team All-State honors while freshman guard Remijo Wani (Portland, Maine) is listed on the MMBCWA All-Rookie Team.
Frazier, who earlier this week earned GNAC First Team All-Conference accolades, secures another top team honor after averaging 14.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 43.5% (136-313) from the floor, 38.7% (89-230) from three-point distance, and 88.9% (56-63) from the free throw line.
The 2023 GNAC Rookie of the Year is the eighth SJC men's basketball player to earn First Team All-State acclaim in the last 18 seasons. He capped his sophomore season as the State's leader in free throw percentage.
In 2024, Frazier achieved the seventh-highest number of three-pointers made by a Saint Joseph's men's basketball player, totaling 89 shots from beyond the arc during his sophomore season. He capped the year ranked fifth in NCAA DIII Men's Basketball – and tops in New England - in three-pointers made and was also fourth in the GNAC in free throw percentage.
Wani, a three-time MMWBCA Rookie of the Week selection this winter, claims All-Rookie Team honors after tallying 11.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 41.2% (119-289) from the field, 28.6% (34-119) from downtown, and 70.6% (36-51) from the charity stripe while playing in all 28 games, including 20 starts, as a freshman. He led the team in rebounding and steals (33) and was third on the squad in scoring average, total points (308), assists (63), field goals made (119), three-pointers made (34), and free throws made (36).
During the 2023-24 season, Wani scored the most points (308) as a freshman since Mike Stallings netted 433 in 2003-04 and is one of just three freshmen in program history to record at least 300 points, 160 rebounds, and 60 assists during their first collegiate campaign.
The Monks capped the 2023-24 campaign ranked second in the MMBCWA Coaches Poll with 45 total points. Husson University ranked first with 64 points, Southern Maine was third with 29 points, UMaine-Farmington placed fourth (27 pts), and Colby College was fifth (19 pts). UMaine-Presque Isle and Bowdoin College also received votes.
Led by third-year Head Coach Tyler Ackley this winter, Saint Joseph's posted an 18-10 overall record with a 12-2 mark in conference play en route to earning the #3 seed in the GNAC Tournament. The Monks opened the tourney with a 74-73 quarterfinal triumph over #6 Emmanuel College and advanced to the GNAC Championship for the first time since 2014 with an 88-87 triumph over #2 Albertus Magnus College – the reigning conference champs – on February 22nd. Despite putting up a good fight in the first half, the team's season came to a close with a 78-59 title game setback at top-seeded University of Saint Joseph two days later.
The Monks started the season with a 3-8 record while playing the 12th most difficult schedule in the country but rebounded by winning 15 of their last 16 games – a stretch that included an 11-game winning streak - before falling to the Blue Jays in the GNAC Championship.
