A pair of honorees represented the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team on Tuesday as the Missouri Valley Conference revealed its 2020-21 all-league teams. Sophomore Ben Krikke (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada / Jasper Place) garnered all-MVC Third Team recognition, while Sheldon Edwards (West Palm Beach, Fla. / Palm Beach Lakes [TLAP Sports Academy]) achieved a place on the All-Freshman Team.

Krikke leads the team in scoring both overall (12.3 ppg) and in conference-only action (13.1 ppg). The lone Valpo player to start all 27 regular-season games, Krikke has made significant strides in 2020-21, boosting his scoring average by 5.6 points per game from last season. The sophomore is on pace to become a 1,000-point scorer as he enters this week’s MVC Tournament with 551 career points.

Krikke, who ranks 14^th in the MVC in scoring and ninth in blocked shots, has scored in double figures 20 times this season. His top statistical output of the year came on Jan. 24 at Illinois State, when he became just the third Valpo player in the last quarter century to record a 25-point, 15-rebound performance. The 25&15 game helped the sophomore forward garner MVC Player of the Week honors on Jan. 26.

Edwards averaged 7.8 points per game over 26 regular-season contests, making 11 starts as a freshman. He has swiped 23 steals and rejected seven shots this season while knocking down a team-most 32 3-pointers. In Valley play, the rookie posted a scoring average of 8.4 ppg.

Edwards earned a place on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays thanks to his electric dunk in Valpo’s upset victory over previously undefeated and nationally-ranked Drake on Feb. 7. That dunk came a day after the freshman guard matched a season high with 20 points in a near upset of the Bulldogs. Edwards was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week and the College Sports Madness MVC Player of the Week on Feb. 7.

This marks the third straight season Valpo has boasted a member of the MVC All-Freshman Team, and the program has had a player on either the All-Freshman or All-Newcomer Team every season since joining The Valley.  

The MVC All-Bench Team and Most-Improved Team will be announced on Wednesday, while the Scholar-Athlete teams will be revealed on Thursday.

First Team Yr. Pos. Ht. Hometown

Tyreke Key, Indiana State Sr. G 6-3 Celina (Tenn.) Clay County High

Cameron Krutwig, Loyola Sr. C 6-9 Algonquin (Ill.) Jacobs High

Isiaih Mosley, Missouri State So. G 6-5 Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge High

Roman Penn, Drake Jr. G 6-0 Calumet City (Ill.) Bishop Noll / Siena

Gaige Prim, Missouri State Sr. F 6-8 Aurora (Colo.) Grandview High

Second Team

Elijah Childs, Bradley Sr. F 6-8 Kansas City (Mo.) Lee's Summit West

Shamar Givance, Evansville Jr. G 5-10 Toronto (Ontario) First Love Christian (Pa.)

Shanquan Hemphill, Drake Sr. F 6-6 Gary (Ind.) Michigan City / Green Bay

Jake LaRavia, Indiana St. So. F 6-9 Indianapolis (Ind.) Lawrence Central High

Lucas Williamson, Loyola Sr. G 6-4 Chicago (Ill.) Whitney Young

Third Team

DJ Horne, Illinois State So. G 6-1 Raleigh (N.C.) Trinity Christian

Lance Jones, S. Illinois So. G 6-1 Evanston (Ill.) Evanston Township High

Ben Krikke, Valparaiso So. F 6-9 Edmonton (Alberta) Jasper Place

Austin Phyfe, UNI Jr. C 6-9 Waverly (Iowa) Waverly-Shell Rock

Aher Uguak, Loyola Sr. F 6-7 Edmonton (Alberta) HarryAinlay / New Mexico

All-Newcomer Team

Bowen Born, UNI Fr. G 5-11 Norwalk (Iowa) High

Darnell Brodie, Drake Jr. F 6-10 Newark (N.J.) Newark East Side / Seton Hall

Shanquan Hemphill, Drake Sr. F 6-6 Gary (Ind.) Michigan City / Green Bay

Braden Norris, Loyola So. G 6-0 Hilliard (Ohio) Hilliard Bradley / Oakland

Demarcus Sharp, MSU Jr. G 6-3 Charleston (Mo.) High / Colby (Kan.) CC

All-Freshman Team

Bowen Born, UNI Fr. G 5-11 Norwalk (Iowa) High

Sheldon Edwards, Valparaiso Fr. G 6-4 West Palm Beach (Fla.) Palm Beach Lakes / TLAP

Kyler Filewich, S. Illinois Fr. C 6-9 Winnepeg (Canada) Orangeville Prep

Nate Heise, UNI Fr. G 6-4 Lake City (Minn.) Lincoln High

Rienk Mast, Bradley Fr. F 6-9 Groningen (Netherlands) Donar Groningen

All-Defensive Team

Shanquan Hemphill, Drake Sr. F 6-6 Gary (Ind.) Michigan City / Green Bay

Gaige Prim, Missouri State Sr. F 6-8 Aurora (Colo.) Grandview High

Aher Uguak, Loyola Sr. F 6-7 Edmonton (Alberta) HarryAinlay / New Mexico

Tre Williams, Indiana State So. C 6-7 Reynoldsburg (Ohio) Woodstock Academy

Lucas Williamson, Loyola Sr. G 6-4 Chicago (Ill.) Whitney Young

All-Bench Team (selected by beat writers)

Announced Wednesday, March 3

Most-Improved Team (selected by beat writers)

Announced Wednesday, March 3

MVC MAJOR AWARDS 
LARRY BIRD MVC
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cameron Krutwig, Loyola
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Shanquan Hemphill, Drake
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Bowen Born, UNI
DEFENSIVE MVP
Lucas Williamson, Loyola
SIXTH-MAN OF THE YEAR
Joseph Yesufu, Drake