Jay Bilas’ preseason men’s basketball All-America team
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Jay Bilas,
- College Basketball AnalystOct 24, 2024, 09:00 AM ET Close College basketball expert for ESPN and ESPN Expert
- Played and coached at Duke
- Practicing attorney
Guy’s college basketball is almost upon us.In less than 2 weeks, another season will tip off and we will begin to get the answer to the game’s most pressing questions. Can UConn win a third successive nationwide title? Can Duke’s newest freshman phenom take the Blue Devils all the method? Is Kansas all set to get better? Can Nate Oats and Alabama take the final step?If you have not been paying attention given that the Huskies reduced the internet in April, we’re here to capture you up. And there’s no better place to begin than with my All-America teams.By the spring,
these players will be competing for Last Four appearances, national player of the year honors and NBA riches. In the meantime, they get the next best thing: the Jay Bilas seal of approval.First Team Guard: R.J. Davis, North Carolina Year: Senior
The only returning first-team All-American, Davis has a real shot to become UNC’s all-time leading scorer and to guide the Tar Heels back to the Final 4. Nobody covers more ground or plays harder.
Guard: Mark
Sears, Alabama Year: Senior The left-handed guard averaged over 21 points and lived at the nasty line for the Crimson Tide’s Final 4 group last season, and he will match– or go beyond– those numbers in Oats’ high-octane offense. And he will have more scorers around him.
Guard/Forward:
Cooper Flagg, Duke Year: Freshman He is the very best thing to come out of Maine considering that lobster. Proficient, competitive and talented, Flagg will not just be Duke’s finest player, but its finest shot blocker.
Center: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton Year: Senior Kalkbrenner is the most efficient big guy in the nation, one who impacts the game at both ends of the court. The three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year is one of the game’s leading shot blockers, and he will set records this season.
Center: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas Year: Senior The lefty big male was the only player to balance a double-double in the Huge 12 last season. This season, the objective should be to average a triple-double … with free-throw attempts. Dickinson wants to shoot 3-pointers– and should. But he must control the paint more.
Duke’s Cooper Flagg might be the top choice in the NBA draft next year. Lance King/Getty Images
Junior varsity
Guard: Caleb Love, Arizona Year: Senior The Pac-12 Player of the Year (the very last one, too), Love is in attack mode all game long. His effectiveness enhanced last season and needs to continue to do so in 2024-25.
Guard: Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon Year: Senior The Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year who started his career at Kansas, Grant-Foster is a natural scorer who hung 29 points on Alabama in the NCAA competition. Don’t be surprised if he leads the country in scoring.
Guard: Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M Year: Senior A three-time first team All-SEC performer, Taylor is amongst the league leaders in nearly every crucial category. Nobody gets hotter quicker and nobody is more likely to give you 40 points in a game.
Forward: Alex Karaban, UConn Year: Junior Maybe the country’s most underrated effect player last season, Karaban is a winner and a terrific cutter who feels in one’s bones how to play. UConn requires him to be a star, and he will be.
Forward: Johni Broome, Auburn Year: Senior The stationary object in the paint, the lefty from Morehead State has now terrified the SEC for 2 years. Whether scoring, rebounding or obstructing shots, he is the best big man in the SEC.Third Group
Guard: Kam Jones, Marquette
Year: Senior
The role will alter, as Jones takes over primary ballhandling duties with Tyler Kolek off to the NBA. However Jones as a dynamic effect player will not change. He may not score as many points this season, however he will be responsible for more.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated
Guard: Braden Smith, Purdue
Year: Junior
The world will look various for Smith without Zach Edey in the post, however he is one of the most difficult rivals to ever use a Purdue uniform.
Guard: Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State Year: Junior Coming off injury, Lipsey remains among the most respected players in the Big 12. A leader and a fantastic protector, he may effectively lead Iowa State to the Final 4.
Guard: Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee Year
: Senior The engine that has actually made the Vols go, Ziegler returned from a knee injury to lead the SEC in helps once again. No one puts better pressure on the ball.
Forward: Great Osobor, Washington Year: Senior Strong, physical, skilled and long armed, Osobor was impressive at Montana State and Utah State. He will make the dive to the Big 10 as the Huskies’ lead dog. He is an NBA talent.Fourth Group Guard: A.J. Storr, Kansas Year: Junior
Possibly it’s a flyer to put Storr in this position, however Costs Self will get the most out of him. Storr is a sensational professional athlete and impressive scorer. Anticipate him to capture all the lobs that KJ Adams Jr. does not.
Guard: LJ Cryer, Houston Year: Senior The Cougars ‘prominent scorer last season after moving from Baylor, Cryer is returning after a foot injury. Still, he needs to be even much better after a year in Kelvin Sampson’s program.
Guard/Forward: Ace Bailey, Rutgers Year: Freshman The 6-10 freshman is as gifted as any player in the nation, and will provide Flagg a real fight in the race for freshman of the year honors and for the top choice in the NBA draft. Bailey can do everything.
Forward: Graham Ike, Gonzaga Year: Senior The lefty huge guy was a centerpiece of Gonzaga’s offense last season and will be even better in his final season. An impressive finisher with the ability to stretch the court, Ike is a difference-maker for Mark Few.
Forward: Tyson Degenhart, Boise State
Year: Senior
Poised to become the Broncos’ all-time leading scorer, Degenhart is amongst the more flexible players in the country.Player of the Year: Mark Sears, Alabama Freshman of the Year: Cooper Flagg, Duke