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Northwest Notes July 23, 2021

| July 23, 2021 1:00 AM

Former Zag Hachimura will be flagbearer for Japan at opening ceremonies

Former Gonzaga standout Rui Hachimura was named one of Japan's flag-bearers for today's opening ceremonies at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Hachimura leads Japan's basketball team, which is competing in the Olympics for the first time since 1976 in Montreal. Japan opens its group play against Spain on Monday at 5 a.m. PDT. Japan's second game versus Slovenia (Wednesday) and third against Argentina (July 31) will both be at 9:40 p.m. PDT. All three games will be streamed at NBCOlympics.com.

Hachimura, a native of Toyama, Japan, was selected ninth overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2019 NBA Draft, becoming the first Japanese-born player taken in the first round. He joined Gonzaga in 2016 as the fifth Japanese-born men's NCAA Division I player, became the first Japanese national to play in the NCAA Tournament in 2017, and played three seasons with the Zags.

The opening ceremonies will be broadcast live on NBC today at 3:55 a.m. PDT. There will be primetime replays on NBC today at 4:30 p.m., and 9:10 p.m.

Five from NIC named to NWAC all-decade golf teams

Sean Langham, Braxton Stewart and Braydon Swapp from the North Idaho College men's golf team were named to the Northwest Athletic Conference's all-decade men's golf team, the conference announced.

Langham led the Cardinals to NWAC tournament championships in 2017 and '18, and was the individual champion in 2018.

Madi Brown and Nicole Miller from the NIC women's golf team were named to the NWAC's all-decade women's team.

Brown was the NWAC tournament individual women's champion in 2018.

WSU's Borghi named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Washington State senior running back Max Borghi was named the 2021 Biletnikoff Award Watch List for college football's top receiver, The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced Thursday.

Borghi appeared in one game during a shortened 2020 season, rushing for 95 yards including an 8t-yard touchdown and caught one pass in the season-finale at Utah. The Arvada, Colo., native enters the 2021 season third in school history for catches by a running back with 140, fourth in WSU history with 29 career total touchdowns and fifth with 20 career rushing touchdowns.

Tuesday, Borghi was named the 2021 Doak Walker Award Watch List, the award given to the nation’s top college running back.

WSU's Hobbs named Allstate AFCA Good Hands Team nominee

NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Washington State senior defensive lineman Dallas Hobbs was named a nominee for the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association announced.

Sports information directors from divisions across the nation nominated 109 student-athletes with stories of exemplary community service, alongside their academic dedication and impact on and off the field.

Hobbs, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, starting 11 of WSU's 17 games the past two seasons, totaling 21 tackles, including 6.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. A double major in digital technology and culture as well as fine arts with a 3.85 GPA, Hobbs has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 first team, earned the 2021 WSU Top-10 Senior Award and this year received the DTC Outstanding Senior Award.

Hobbs is actively involved in numerous groups off the field, including being a representative on the Pac-12 Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) and a graphic designer for the Cougar Athletic Fund (CAF). He is also active on campus serving on the student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) and leading WSU's Black Student-Athlete Association (BSAA) as a member of the executive board.

Hobbs has been active in numerous volunteer activities, including volunteering at the Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute, Butch’s Bash, an athletic department holiday party for local community kids, and the Eastern Washington Special Olympics Basketball Tournament. Additionally, Hobbs designed, produced and marketed stickers in honor of a teammate who passed away in the spring of 2020 with all proceeds going to his teammate's family. Hobbs also worked with the Women Helping Women Fund by creating designs for promotions, social media, mailers, cards, infographics, websites, and other variations of media.

Four Boise State football players selected preseason All-Mountain West

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Boise State’s Kekaula Kaniho, John Ojukwu, Khalil Shakir and Jake Stetz were named to the 2021 Preseason All-Mountain West Football Team, the conference announced Thursday.

Kaniho returns for a fifth year with the Broncos. In his career, he has registered 165 tackles, including 22.5 TFL (five sacks), five interceptions, 26 pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Ojukwu and Stetz were each All-Mountain West second team in 2020.

Shakir has been named to the watch lists for both the Maxwell and Biletnikoff Awards. He is an All-America third team selection by Pro Football Focus and garnered a spot on all-conference first teams selected by Athlon, Phil Steele and PFF.

Last season, Shakir recorded 52 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns. He added 148 rushing yards and was one of only two players nationally with 700 yards receiving and 100 yards rushing last season. He was a PFF honorable mention All-American and All-Mountain first-team honoree who led the Mountain West (10th nationally) with 7.43 receptions per game.