Men’s college basketball is almost upon us.
In less than two weeks, another season will tip off and we will start to get answers to the game’s most pressing questions. Can UConn win a third consecutive national title? Can Duke’s latest freshman phenom take the Blue Devils all the way? Is Kansas ready to bounce back? Can Nate Oats and Alabama take the final step?
If you haven’t been paying attention since the Huskies cut down the nets in April, we’re here to catch you up. And there’s no better place to start than with my All-America teams.
By the spring, these players will be competing for Final Four appearances, national player of the year honors and NBA riches. For now, 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 Four. 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 foul line for the Crimson Tide’s Final Four team last season, and he will match — or exceed — 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 best thing to come out of Maine since lobster. Skilled, competitive and talented, Flagg will not only be Duke’s best player, but its best shot blocker.
Center: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Year: Senior
Kalkbrenner is the most efficient big man in the nation, one who affects the game at both ends of the court. The three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year is one of the game’s top shot blockers, and he will set records this season.
Center: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Year: Senior
The lefty big man was the only player to average a double-double in the Big 12 last season. This season, the goal should be to average a triple-double … with free-throw attempts. Dickinson wants to shoot 3-pointers — and should. But he should dominate the paint more.
Second Team
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 efficiency improved last season and should 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 tournament. Don’t be surprised if he leads the nation in scoring.
Guard: Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M
Year: Senior
A three-time first team All-SEC performer, Taylor is among the league leaders in almost every important category. Nobody gets hotter faster and nobody is more likely to give you 40 points in a game.
Forward: Alex Karaban, UConn
Year: Junior
Perhaps the nation’s most underrated impact player last season, Karaban is a winner and a great cutter who just knows how to play. UConn needs him to be a star, and he will be.
Forward: Johni Broome, Auburn
Year: Senior
The immovable object in the paint, the lefty from Morehead State has now terrorized the SEC for two years. Whether scoring, rebounding or blocking shots, he is the best big man in the SEC.
Third Team
Guard: Kam Jones, Marquette
Year: Senior
The role will change, as Jones takes over primary ballhandling duties with Tyler Kolek off to the NBA. But Jones as a dynamic impact player will not change. He might not score as many points this season, but he will be responsible for more.
Guard: Braden Smith, Purdue
Year: Junior
The world will look different for Smith without Zach Edey in the post, but he is one of the toughest competitors to ever wear a Purdue uniform.
Guard: Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Year: Junior
Coming off injury, Lipsey remains one of the most respected players in the Big 12. A leader and a great defender, he might very well lead Iowa State to the Final Four.
Guard: Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
Year: Senior
The engine that has made the Vols go, Ziegler returned from a knee injury to lead the SEC in assists again. Nobody puts better pressure on the ball.
Forward: Great Osobor, Washington
Year: Senior
Strong, physical, skilled and long armed, Osobor was outstanding at Montana State and Utah State. He will make the jump to the Big Ten as the Huskies’ lead dog. He is an NBA talent.
Fourth Team
Guard: A.J. Storr, Kansas
Year: Junior
Maybe it’s a flyer to put Storr in this position, but Bill Self will get the most out of him. Storr is a phenomenal athlete and outstanding scorer. Expect him to catch all the lobs that KJ Adams Jr. does not.
Guard: LJ Cryer, Houston
Year: Senior
The Cougars’ leading scorer last season after transferring from Baylor, Cryer is returning after a foot injury. Still, he should be even better after a year in Kelvin Sampson’s program.
Guard/Forward: Ace Bailey, Rutgers
Year: Freshman
The 6-10 freshman is as talented as any player in the country, and will give Flagg a real fight in the race for freshman of the year honors and for the top pick in the NBA draft. Bailey can do it all.
Forward: Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Year: Senior
The lefty big man was a focal point of Gonzaga’s offense last season and will be even better in his final season. An outstanding 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 among the more versatile players in the country.
Player of the Year: Mark Sears, Alabama
Freshman of the Year: Cooper Flagg, Duke