SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara men's basketball is well-represented on the 2021-22 All-WCC teams announced on Wednesday with Jalen Williams and Josip Vrankic earning a spot on the first team and Keshawn Justice garnering second team honors.
The Broncos are one of four teams with multiple representatives on the first team ballot, joining Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and San Francisco.
Williams, an honorable mention selection a year ago, picked up first team honors after leading the WCC with an average of 17.9 points per game. The junior sharpshooter from Gilbert, Ariz. has been one of the most consistent scorers in the league all season long. He has scored in double figures in all but two games, has scored at least 16 points in 20 games and has 11 20-point games on the year. Williams' season-high was a 30-point barrage against Hawai'i. He also recorded just the second double-double of his career in the Broncos' upset over No. 22 Saint Mary's with 18 points and 10 assists. Williams leads the WCC with 536 points on the season, and is the first Bronco with 500 points in a year since KJ Feagin in 2017-18.
"Jalen has been just phenomenal from start to finish this season," head coach Herb Sendek said. "He leads the league in scoring average and yet is such an unselfish player. He is also a tremendous defender and has really stepped his entire game up a notch this year. I'm very proud of the way he has handled himself on and off the court this season."
Vrankic is now a four-time All-WCC honoree and a two-time first team selection after garnering a first team nod a season ago. He is the first Bronco since Jared Brownridge to earn multiple first team All-WCC honors. Vrankic, who missed eight games this season due to illness, was able to come back and put on a dominating effort in league play, finishing the regular season with a 15.0 ppg average while shooting a team-best 55.1 percent from the floor in WCC play. The Toronto, Canada, product posted five 20-point games throughout the year, including a 30-point outing in his final home game in the red and white on Senior Day against Portland. Vrankic is currently third in program history with 1,758 career points.
"What more can be said about Josip that hasn't been said already. He's been a phenomenal player for us ever since he joined the team five years ago, and is now a four-time all-conference selection," Sendek said. "I'm so proud of what he has been able to accomplish for us this season. He had some hard luck by coming down with mono earlier this year, but was able to build his body back up and finish the year as one of the top players in our league once again."
A senior from Madison, Wis., Justice earned the first All-WCC honors of his four-year career. He secured eight double-doubles on the year, good for third in the league and led the Broncos with 5.9 rebounds per game. Justice also ranked third in the WCC with 2.3 3-point field goals per game and tallied seven games with four or more treys. His 69 total 3-pt made were good for third-most in the league. Justice reached 1,000 career points against Gonzaga and has 1,143 to date.
"Keshawn is another player that I think made some really great strides in his overall game this season," Sendek said. "He established himself as not only an excellent 3-point shooter, but also a terrific rebounder. He has eight double-doubles on the year and really helped us close a lot of games out with his ability to make big plays when we needed them most. I'm very proud of Keshawn and think he is definitely deserving of earning this honor."
The Broncos are set to play in Saturday's University Credit Union WCC Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal as the No. 3 seed. Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. PT on ESPN2.
