For the third-straight season and just the fourth time ever, a freshman has made the Associated Press' preseason All-American team, which was announced Monday afternoon. The honor this year belongs to Australia native Ben Simmons, a 6'10 point-forward who will be suiting up for LSU.
Ben Simmons, Kris Dunn lead preseason All-American team
For just the fourth time ever, a freshman has earned preseason All-American honors.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Simmons, who averaged 28 points, 11.9 rebounds and four assists per game as a high school senior last year for Florida's Montverde Academy, is projected by most scouts to go in the top-3, if not No. 1 overall, in next year's NBA Draft.
Simmons is the only underclassman among the five preseason All-Americans. Below is the rest of the team.
Kris Dunn, G, Providence: A junior, Dunn averaged 15.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.7 steals per game last season and is ranked by Draft Express as the No. 7 prospect among next year's draft hopefuls.
Buddy Hield, G, Oklahoma: A senior, Hield averaged 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds last season and led the Sooners to the Sweet 16.
Kyle Wiltjer, C, Gonzaga: A 6'10 senior, Wiltjer was the leading vote-getter among the group, receiving 51 votes from the 65-member panel. He averaged 16.7 points and six rebounds per game last season, his first with Gonzaga after transferring from Kentucky in 2013 and being forced to sit out a season.
Georges Niang, F, Iowa State: A senior, Niang averaged 15.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game last season. He was the second-leading vote getter among the group with 46.
Ben Simmons, F, LSU: Simmons only received 27 votes, just one more than Maryland sophomore Melo Trimble. He joins Jahlil Okafor, Andrew Wiggins and Harrison Barnes as freshmen named preseason All-Americans.
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