The AP preseason All-America team has been announced and shakes out thusly, with number of votes in parenthesis (there were 65 total voters) and a blurb on each player from Blogging the Bracket’s previously posted All-America teams:
Breaking Down The AP Preseason All-America Team, Led By Luke Harangody
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (57):
Harangody returns for his senior year in South Bend after a junior campaign that was an individual success, but a team disappointment. Harangody averaged a stout 23.5 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game. He shot well overall (46.3%) and from three-point land (36.1%). With his return, Harangody has the chance to set all-time Big East marks in both scoring and rebounds, which, given the history of the conference, would be quite an accomplishment.
Cole Aldrich, Kansas (49):
Aldrich's return, along with that of Sherron Collins and Bill Self's highly-rated recruiting class, cemented the Jayhawks' status as this year's preseason number 1. Last season, Aldrich averaged a double-double (14.9 ppg and 11.1 rpg), while blocking nearly 3 shots per game. Few teams can say they have a post presence like that on their roster. As this post from Rock Chalk Talk discusses, returning to Lawrence gives Aldrich a chance to improve his post moves and work on his condition. That should further boost his already high draft stock.
Sherron Collins, Kansas (39):
Collins wasn’t as highly regarded as Aldrich by NBA scouts because of his size (especially in a draft class full of point guards), so it was fairly easy for him to give up the chance at NBA riches for a chance at April glory. Collins averaged nearly 19 points per game last season, while contributing almost 5 assists per contest. Collins is the team’s heart and soul and his senior leadership will be a positive influence on a team with so many newcomers who are expected to contribute immediately. The one aspect of his game he could stand to improve is turnovers. His assist to turnover ratio of 4.9/3.3 is a bit high for an elite point guard.
Patrick Patterson, Kentucky (35):
Patterson decided to return for his junior season, lessening the blow of sharpshooter Jodie Meeks' departure. Patterson averaged almost 18 points per game and a little more than 9 board per game in Billy Gillispie's system, so the main question will be how does he adjust to John Calipari's dribble-drive offense. He will probably bring an entirely different dimension to the system, as Calipari didn't have such a talented big man during his entire Memphis tenure. (And look at how well those teams did.)
Kyle Singler, Duke (30):
Singler was the Blue Devils leading rebounder (at almost 8 per contest) and second leading scorer (16 ppg.). This season, he'll probably lead Duke in both categories as the Blue Devils lost leading scorer Gerald Henderson's 16-plus points per game. Singler, with his inside/outside flexibility, is the player best able to carry a bit more of the scoring load this season.
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