2022-23 All-PacWest Awards

IRVINE, Calif. – Following one of the best seasons in Academy of Art men's basketball history that included a program-record 20 regular season wins, more ART U history has been made as three Urban Knights have collected postseason honors from the Pacific West Conference for the first time ever as senior guard Klay Brown and senior forward Mike Asante were named to the All-PacWest Second Team while graduate student guard Will Balata earned All-PacWest Third Team honors. 

"Congratulations to Mike, Klay, and Will for being recognized for their outstanding performances this year that helped the ART U basketball program have their best regular season in the history of the school," said ART U Head Coach Scott Waterman. "Each of these young men thrived in their roles on the court, and it speaks volumes about our program that three Urban Knights were selected to all-conference teams for the first time in school history."

Last season's PacWest Defender of the Year was up to his old tricks again and then some, as Brown picked up All-PacWest Second Team honors after he averaged 11.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game over 28 contests played that included 26 starts. Earlier this season he became ART U's all-time steals leader as his 66 this campaign (nine shy of his ART U single-season record last year) now brings him to a total of 141 in just his two seasons as an Urban Knight.

Additionally he's been one of the best in the country defensively, as he ranks seventh in total steals while sitting eighth in steals per game (2.36). A two-time PacWest Defender of the Week this year, Brown led ART U in blocks with 1.1 per game (fifth in PacWest) and assists with 2.9 per game (10th in PacWest), while also ranking third on the Knights in points per game (11.9) after reaching double figures 16 times this season. This is his first All-PacWest Team honor of his career.

A two-time PacWest Defender of the Week and one-time PacWest Player of the Week, Asante collected All-PacWest Second Team honors after he averaged 12.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, and 1.0 steals per game over 25 contests including 21 starts. His 8.1 rebounds was not only tops on ART U, it was the third-best mark in program history while also ranking fourth in the PacWest. Against then-No. 20 Point Loma on Jan. 21 he grabbed an eye-popping 20 rebounds, tying the ART U record for rebounds in a game, which was also the most in any PacWest game since 2016. His 12.0 ppg were second on ART U despite leading the squad with 17 games scoring in double-digits. Though he was named the All-PacWest Tournament MVP last season while also making the All-PacWest Tournament Team, this is the first All-PacWest honor in his career.

Making an impact in just his first season with ART U, Balata was named to the All-PacWest Third Team after he averaged 12.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game over 25 contests including 12 starts. Balata was the top scorer on ART U this season (and 20th in the PacWest), reaching double-digit points a total of 15 times that included a 25-point performance against UH Hilo on Jan. 12, which was the most points in a game by an Urban Knight this campaign. Helping contribute on the glass, his 6.1 rpg was 13th-best in the PacWest and helped him to produce a pair of double-doubles. This is the first such honor of his career.

This is the sixth consecutive year that at least one Urban Knight has been named to an All-PacWest Team, the ninth season overall with at least one selection, with this year's three Urban Knights topping the previous program record of two honors in a single season which has occurred three times (2019-20: first and third teams; 2020-21: NorCal Pod Selections; 2011-12: honorable mentions).