The Big Sky Conference has cranked out some NBA stars recently. One of those stars appears on the all-decade team. Overall, Montana, Eastern Washington, and Weber State dominated the decade. Players that helped those programs succeed were also impactful on the conference overall.
Big Sky 2010s All-Decade Team
Starters
Guard – Damian Lillard, Weber State
Damian Lillard played at Weber State from 2008-2012. He won player of the year twice, once in this decade in 2012. An injury during his sophomore year more than likely kept him from winning a third. Lillard dominated the record books for the Wildcats. He is the all-time leader in made threes, made free throws, and free throw percentage for the school.
Lillard’s junior year in 2011-12 cemented his college legacy. His 24.5 points per game were the best in school history, best in the league and second-best in the country that season. He scored in double-figures in all 32 games, including scoring 20 or more in 22 games and 30 or more in eight games. Lillard led the league in every scoring category that season.
For his career, he leads the Big Sky in four offensive advanced metrics categories. Lillard entered the NBA Draft after his junior season and is now the centerpiece of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Guard – Kareem Jamar, Montana
Kareem Jamar played for the Grizzlies from 2010-2014. He was the league’s player of the year in 2013 and was named an honorable mention for the AP All-American team. He was also a three-time member of the first-team. Jamar had a triple-double during his sophomore season.
He averaged 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game for his career. He finished in the top ten in conference history in defensive rebounds, points produced, defensive and regular win shares. Jamar helped lead the Grizzlies to two regular-season titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Guard – Mikh McKinney, Sacramento State
Mikh McKinney was a Hornet from 2012-2015. He won player of the year in 2015 and was named as an honorable mention to the AP All-American team. This was the first All-American honor for any Hornet in their Division I existence. He finished in the top 10 in 14 categories in school history. His unanimous selection to the conference’s first-team was another program first.
McKinney averaged 16.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game for his career. He led the Big Sky in steals during his senior season and took them to the CIT. McKinney is easily the best player Sacramento State has had as a Division I program.
Guard – Davion Berry, Weber State
Davion Berry played for Weber State from 2012-2014, stepping into Lillard’s place as the school’s next great guard. He was a transfer from Division II and immediately garnered newcomer of the year honors. He topped it off by being the league’s player of the year in 2014. Over just two seasons, Berry still managed to break the top ten for his career in five school categories.
Berry averaged 17.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game for his career. He also shot 40.1 percent from behind the arc. He scored 20 or more points 19 times during his final season. Berry helped Weber State win one regular-season title and make one tournament appearance.
Forward – Bogdan Bliznyuk, Eastern Washington
Bogdan Bliznyuk played for the Eagles from 2014-18. The Ukrainian was the league’s rookie of the year in 2015 and player of the year in 2018. He finished his career as the school’s winningest player and the league’s leading all-time scorer (now fourth). He also held 16 school records.
For his career, Bliznyuk averaged 15.7 points, six rebounds, and three assists per game. Over his final two seasons, he averaged close to 21 points per game. Bliznyuk is fourth in Big Sky history in offensive win shares and helped Eastern Washington win one league title and appear in one NCAA Tournament.
Bench
Guard – Will Cherry, Montana
Will Cherry played for Montana from 2009-2013. He was a two-time member of the league’s first-team. He also finished as the school’s all-time leader in steals, while finishing second all-time for the conference. Cherry led the league twice in steals during his career.
Cherry averaged 12.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 steals per game over four years. His high-level defense allowed him to finish second in defensive rating and third in defensive win shares in Big Sky history. Cherry formed a dynamic backcourt with Kareem Jamar, helping Montana make two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Guard – Jerrick Harding, Weber State
Jerrick Harding is the third Weber State guard to make the team. He appeared on the league’s first-team twice and became the Wildcats’ all-time leading scorer this past season. That career points total also put him third on the conference’s all-time list. Harding sits in the top 10 of 12 school categories.
For his career, Harding averaged 18.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. His 22.2 points per game during the 2019-20 season was tops in the league. He ranks in the top 10 all-time in four statistical categories for the Big Sky. He led the Wildcats to one CIT appearance.
Guard – Tyler Hall, Montana State
Tyler Hall played for Montana State from 2015-19. The four-year Bobcat was rookie of the year in 2016 and a two-time member of the league’s first-team. His 2,518 career points are the school and conference record for a career. He is also in the top 10 in NCAA history for made three-point baskets.
Hall averaged 20 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for his career. He was a 40.3 percent career three-point shooter. Hall leads the conference all-time in made field goals and three-point makes. He is also in the top 10 of nine other categories. He is one of, if not the best, player in Montana State history.
Guard – Quinton Hooker, North Dakota
Quinton Hooker played for North Dakota from 2013-17. He was a two-time unanimous selection to the conference’s first-team. He finished sixth on the Fighting Hawks’ all-time points list and fourth for assists.
Hooker averaged 14 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for his career. He owns the fifth-best offensive rating in Big Sky history. Hooker was paramount in helping North Dakota win its first (and only) conference title and make the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament in 2017.
Forward – Venky Jois, Eastern Washington
Venky Jois played for the Eagles from 2012-16. The Australian was the rookie of the year in 2013 and a two-time member of the league’s first-team. He had a 58.3 percent career field goal percentage and led the Big Sky twice in that category.
For his career, Jois averaged 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and two blocks per game. He is the conference’s leader in made two-point field goals and second all-time in rebounds and blocks. He was part of a formidable duo with Bogdan Bliznyuk for two seasons, going to one NCAA Tournament.
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