3 B1G basketball stars make CBS preseason All-America teams
With football season in full swing, it won’t be long before Big Ten basketball season is underway.
CBS released its preseason All Americans on Wednesday afternoon, and their first-team selections included two Big Ten stars: Iowa center Luka Garza and Illinois forward Ayo Dosunmu. Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis earned second-team honors.
Here’s what CBS had to say about Garza:
“There can be no doubt. Of the 15 players who made CBS Sports’ First, Second and Third All-America teams at the end of the 2019-20 season, Garza is the only returnee to college basketball. The Iowa center has his team in position to be top 10 in college hoops and has the potential to average 24 points and 12 rebounds on one of the best offenses in college basketball. If he is better than last season, it’s hard to see how he’s not the best player in America.”
Last season, Garza averaged 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game as one of the best players in the country. He also contributed defensively, adding 1.8 blocks per game.
Dosunmu also had a standout season for the Illini a year ago. Here’s what CBS had to say about him:
There were very few surprising stay-or-go decisions that went the way of the former, but Dosunmu opting to return to campus to give Illinois its best outlook in a decade-plus might be the best. The heady, athletic, fearless lead guard has Illini fans dreaming of a Final Four. Dosunmu averaged 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 2019-20. All those numbers should climb. Alongside Kofi Cockburn, this has the potential for a special season in Champaign.
Lastly, Jackson-Davis should be a difference-maker for the Hoosiers this season. He averaged 13.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in 2019. Here’s CBS’ take:
“Last season Jackson-Davis led all freshmen in the Big Ten in scoring, blocks and PER. Now, as a sophomore, he figures to again stand out as the featured player on IU. One of the most technically sound and reliable producers in the Big Ten should be back and better than we last saw him.”
Iowa, Illinois and Indiana should have Big Ten title aspirations this season.
CBS also honored Baylor guard Jared Butler, Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham and Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert.