There is a heavy Bisons presence at Winnipeg Sea Bears training camp this year. Four different athletes with ties to the Herd are part of the local CEBL team's training camp roster. Practices began today and run until May 2nd. Canada West All-Stars Mason Kraus and Daren Watts, both recent graduates of the Bisons basketball program, along with current roster member Ramogi Nyagudi and former All-Canadian Simon Hildebrandt make up the quartet representing UM. 

Kraus was a four-time Canada West All-Star for the Bisons (All-Rookie in 2022, Third Team in 2023, First Team in 2025, Third Team in 2026). He became just the eighth player in program history to receive conference all-status status of some form in four different seasons, joining Terry Ball (1966-70), Darryl Rumsey (1972-76), Martin Riley (1974-78), Eric Bridgeland (1989-93), Mark Virgo (1992-96), Elliot Unger (1992/1994-96) and James Wagner (2016/2018-20, 2022).

The Winnipeg native re-wrote the school record book during his time with the Herd, setting new program marks in career regular season assists (493) and career regular season steals (236). Those totals rank fifth, and third all-time in Canada West history, respectively. 

A diverse play-maker, Kraus – selected by the Sea Bears during CEBL Signing Day --  led Canada West and was third in the nation with 116 assists, despite missing three games due to injury. He also recorded a career-high three double-doubles, and graduates having recorded 1,363 career points. 

A dual-citizen, Kraus' passport extends to Germany, where he will further his pro career in the fall, signing with EPG Baskets Koblenz, who play Pro A, Second Division. 

Watts was a Canada West Second Team All-Star this past year, after leading Manitoba and finishing fifth in Canada West with a career-high 17.6 points per game. 

A veteran of 95 career U SPORTS games, Watts amassed over 20 points in nine different regular season contests, and also posted personal bests in field goal percentage (49) and offensive rebounds (49), with the latter ranking eighth in Canada West. He graduated having recorded 1,200 career points. 

Nyagudi averaged 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 21.5 minutes in his Bisons debut in 2025-26. The 6'9" forward  posted season highs of 33 points and 12 rebounds against MacEwan. He also recorded a season-high 5 blocks against the Winnipeg Wesmen. 

Prior to his time with the Herd, he represented Canada at the FIBA U18 Men's AmeriCup in 2024, where Canada defeated the Dominican Republic to secure bronze. Nyagudi averaged 4.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists during the tournament.

Hildebrandt makes his return to the CEBL, playing two seasons (2023 and 2024) with the Sea Bears as part of the league's Intership Program. During that time, he was a standout for the Bisons. As a freshman, he averaged 17 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and was named a U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian, along with being named U SPORTS Rookie of the Year (the first Bison to win the award since 1990). Hildebrandt also helped Manitoba to a historic 18-win regular season. 

He followed that with a sophomore season where he averaged 16.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, including a career-high 41-point performance against Victoria. 

The Winnipeg native was originally selected first overall by Winnipeg in the 2023 CEBL U SPORTS Draft, becoming the first draft pick in franchise history, and was selected again in the first round in 2024. Hildebrandt won the 2023 and 2024 CEBL U SPORTS Player of the Year (now Developmental Player of the Year) award, which recognizes the top U SPORTS/CCAA player in the professional league.