Predicting the All American Teams in College Basketball
The 2022-23 NCAA men’s basketball season is about a month away from tipping off. A talented freshman class joins the great returning talent all across the country. These are my predictions for the first, second, and third team All-Americans this season.
First Team
Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated
G: Marcus Sasser, Houston: Sasser only played 12 games last season before going down with a toe injury, but he averaged 17.7 points per game in those games. He proves to be one of the best shooters and scorers for a Houston team that should be ranked in the top three to start the season.
G/F: Jaime Jaquez Jr, UCLA: Jaquez just might be the best wing in college when healthy. He averaged 13.9 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, and 2.3 assists per game last season while dealing with multiple injuries. He is set to take over the Bruins offense after both Johnny Juzang and Jules Bernard left for the NBA Draft.
F: Drew Timme, Gonzaga: Timme returns to a Gonzaga team that should be ranked within the top three yet again. Timme quietly averaged 18.4 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game on 58 percent from the field last season while all the attention was on eventual second overall draft pick Chet Holmgren. Timme flirted with the NBA Draft process, but returns to Spokane for his senior season where he should be one of the best players in the country for the third straight season.
C: Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky: Not often do you see the AP National Player of the Year return to school, but Tshiebwe chose to do just that. He averaged 17.4 points per game and an astounding 15.1 rebounds per game for the Wildcats last season. Kentucky proves to be deeper this year, so Tshiebwe and an experienced Wildcats team hope to make a deep run come March.
C: Armando Bacot, UNC: Bacot is my pick to win National Player of the Year for this upcoming season. He led the Tar Heels to the National Title game averaging 16.3 points per game and 13.1 rebounds per game. He completely dominated the glass in UNC’s unexpected March Madness run. UNC looks to be preseason number one and Bacot is the main reason why.
Second Team
Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson, Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated
G: Kendric Davis, Memphis: Davis decided to transfer to Memphis for his extra year of eligibility after three successful seasons at SMU. Davis averaged 19.4 points per game and 4.4 assists per game, and he averaged 7.6 assists per game the year prior. Davis is one of the best playmakers in the country and should flourish in Penny Hardaway’s offense.
G: Mike Miles, TCU: The junior guard must improve his efficiency, but Miles should build on a strong sophomore season where he averaged 15.4 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, and 3.8 assists per game. The Horned Frogs return all five starters of a team that came up just short to upsetting number one seeded Arizona in March. Another strong year from Miles can make TCU a top 10 team.
F: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana: Jackson-Davis seemed likely to head to the NBA this past summer, but he elected to return for his senior season and the Mike Woodson led Hoosiers. Trayce averaged 18.3 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game on 58.9 percent from the field last season. Jackson-Davis should have another monster campaign that could make Indiana a contender in the Big 10.
F/C: Hunter Dickinson, Michigan: Dickinson also decided to return to school after entering the NBA Draft process. The 7’1 big man averaged 18.6 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game last season, and even developed a three point shot. There is not too much hype in Ann Arbor for this season, but Dickinson will keep the Wolverines competitive.
C: Zach Edey, Purdue: Yet another big man from the Big 10 makes the list in the 7’4 Edey. Edey averaged 14.4 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game in just 19 minutes per game. As he no longer has to battle for minutes with Trevion Williams, Edey should put up monster numbers with more minutes this season.
Third Team
Duke’s Dariq Whitehead, Photo Courtesy of Duke Chronicle
G: Nick Smith, Arkansas: The freshman guard is poised for a big season for the Razorbacks. Smith was the number three recruit in the ESPN 100 for 2022. Smith is a talented three-level scorer and playmaker, and should help Arkansas battle for the SEC title.
G: Caleb Love, UNC: The former top 10 recruit broke out last season after a disappointing freshman season. Love averaged 15.9 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 3.6 assists per game last year. He also improved his 3 point percentage from 26 percent as a freshman to 36 percent as a sophomore. He had some really impressive performances to help the Tar Heels advance to the National title game, and should have another great season for a loaded UNC team.
G/F: Dariq Whitehead, Duke: The 6’6 freshman from Montverde Academy was ranked as the number two recruit in the ESPN 100 for 2022. Whitehead broke his foot and had surgery back in August, but should return to the team early in the season, if he misses any games at all. Whitehead projects to be the best player on a young, but talented Duke squad, and his two-way potential should have him as a top draft pick next June.
F: Adama Sanogo, UCONN: Sanogo is an easy pick for preseason Big East Player of the Year, after averaging 14.8 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore. The 6’9 big man out of Mali is also an improved shot blocker, and should continue to trend in that direction. Sanogo will be the leader of another talented Huskies team.
C: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton: The 7’1 Kalbrenner won Big East Defensive Player of the Year last season. He also averaged a very respectable 13.1 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game. Kalkbrenner went down in the first round of the tournament with a knee injury for a Blue Jays squad that looked like it could make a run. Creighton could be a top five team this season, and Kalbrenner will be their anchor down low.
