LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The selections were announced for the 2026 NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game on Thursday. This season, 26 players were selected to participate in the 16th year of the annual event. Twenty-two of 26 participants were named to 2026 NJCAA Men's Basketball All-American teams, with 10 players selected as First Team All-Americans in their respective divisions (I, II or III).

For Arizona Western it makes the third year in a row the Matadors will be represented at the Las Vegas event with sophomore Marsai Mason receiving the selection and invite on Thursday morning. 

"I've just been blessed all year with the accolades," Marsai Mason said. "I'm just trying to go out there and have fun. At Arizona Western, Coach Isaacs has a fire that not a lot of coaches have. Whether it's conditioning or how he takes care of things. He's probably one of the best coaches I've had all-time."

Mason who was given the nickname "The Dominator" during the season, was named ACCAC Player of the Year, ACCAC Defensive Player of the Year and also selected as an NJCAA All-American. Mason shares when his game finally started to click. 

"I'd say during the Winter Classic that we hosted," Mason said. "I always felt I could get up and down the floor more and the Classic proved it to the coaches and some of the fans. The Classic really helped me a lot." 

Mason follows in the footsteps behind Edwin Suarez (2024-25) and A.J. Marmolejos (2023-24) in being selected for the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game. Head Coach Kyle Isaacs says Mason will have some big shoes to fill. 

"A.J. was honored a few years back as the small player of the game," Isaacs said. "Edwin played really well last year. Both played really well in back-to-back years. We've been very fortunate."

The 2026 NJCAA Men's Basketball All-Star Game will be held at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 9, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. local). The game will be streamed live on YouTube. 
For more information leading up to the game, visit www.jcbca.com.