Giovanni Fanta
College basketball broadcaster and reporter
It’s time to placed on the black tie and get the orchestra began as we give out some midseason recognition to varsity basketball’s prime superstars.
It was a improbable begin to the season, and the lone freshmen’s return to the nationwide highlight was refreshing to look at. What Duke freshman Cooper Flagg (19.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG and three.9 APG) is doing this yr is totally sensational, as we noticed on Saturday when he went off for 42 factors on 11-of-14 capturing from the ground and 16-of-17 from the road free throw capturing with seven assists and 6 rebounds within the win over Notre Dame.
We even have the likes of Johni Broome and No. 1 Auburn, the return of Braden Smith from a nationwide runner-up Purdue workforce, and a few different freshmen like Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey at Rutgers and Illinois standout Kasparas Jakucionis, who has been loads of enjoyable to look at this season.
Without additional ado, let’s get to our FOX College Hoops midseason All-Americans!
Midseason First Team All-Americans:
by John Broome, Coppery (Midseason National Player of the Year)
Even although he is out indefinitely with an ankle damage that does not require surgical procedure, which is nice information, the most effective participant for your entire season on the No. 1 workforce within the nation will get my highest honor in faculty basketball at second. Broome averaged 18 factors and 11 rebounds per recreation, capturing 55 % from the ground and being the point of interest of the No. 1 offense within the nation, in line with KenPom. He scored 20-plus factors in 10 video games this season and was equally dominant on the glass. The Tigers’ fifth-year senior huge man has been spectacular this yr.
Cooper Flagg, Duke (National Midseason Rookie of the Year)
The projected No. 1 decide within the 2025 NBA Draft could lead on the Blue Devils to their first nationwide championship in a decade as a result of Flagg is an out-of-the-box athlete, defender and winner. He assaults the basket ferociously and his perimeter shot is producing extra constant outcomes now. In his first 10 faculty video games, he shot simply 22 % from 3-point vary. In his final six video games, Flagg has shot 12 of twenty-two from 3-point land.
Kam Jones, Marchetta
He means as a lot to his workforce as any participant in America, averaging 20 factors and over six assists per recreation for the seventh-ranked Golden Eagles. Shaka Smart stated within the preseason that America was about to learn how good Jones was as a passer with Tyler Kolek gone to the NBA. Well, Smart referred to as it after which some. Jones averaged 103 assists and 25 turnovers on the season. In the EvanMiya.com metrics system, Jones is the seventh-best playmaker in faculty basketball. Shooting over 50% from the ground is nothing in need of extraordinary, and that is why Jones and the Golden Eagles can as soon as once more make a deep run in March.
Braden Smith, Purdue
He’s the most effective level guard in America as a result of he is relentless on each ends of the ground and simply desires the Boilermakers to win. The junior someway managed to get even higher throughout the offseason and at present ranks third within the nation with 9.2 assists per recreation whereas averaging 15 factors and 4.6 rebounds. In two wins over Nebraska and Rutgers final week, Smith tallied 28 assists on 5 turnovers – sure, ONLY two video games! Having to guard him is nearly not possible as a result of he’s an impeccable offensive participant who additionally shoots 42% from 3-point vary.
PJ Haggerty, Memphis
The Tigers are a prime 20 workforce within the nation because of the redshirt sophomore and transfer to Tulsa. Last season, whereas enjoying for the Golden Hurricane, Haggerty grew to become solely the second Division I freshman within the final 30-plus years to common a minimum of 21.0 factors, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1, 5 steals in a single season. This yr he’s averaging 22.4 factors, 5.6 rebounds and three.1 assists per recreation, capturing 50% from the ground and 42% from 3-point vary. He willed Memphis on an unimaginable run on the Maui Invitational and provides Penny Hardaway’s workforce an actual likelihood to be a Final Four darkish horse.
Midseason Second Team All-Americans:
Eric Dixon, Villanova
The nation’s main scorer highlights our second workforce. Dixon, who’s averaging 25.3 factors per recreation whereas capturing 50 % from the ground and a whopping 47 % from 3-point vary, can finest be described by DePaul coach Chris Holtmann:
“He is the most important matchup downside in faculty basketball for a minimum of the final 5 years as a result of his versatility is limitless.”
The great degree of manufacturing and capturing from the 6-foot-8, 265-pound huge man is unimaginable at instances and provides Villanova an opportunity towards anybody due to how a lot he can fill him up.
Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
He’s had as a lot affect as any switch in faculty basketball, which is a well-recognized sight to see in Knoxville after Dalton Knecht dominated for the Volunteers and would have gained nationwide participant of the yr final season if not for the historic marketing campaign by Zach Edey. Lanier, a 6-4 guard switch from North Florida, is averaging 19 factors per recreation on the season, capturing 46 % from the ground and 45 % from 3-point vary. He has scored 20 or extra factors in seven video games this season.
Walter Clayton, Florida
The Gators are authentic nationwide title contenders as a result of the 6-3 senior guard and Alijah Martin make up the most effective protection duos within the nation. Clayton is averaging 17.2 factors, 4.0 assists and three.3 rebounds per recreation for Florida whereas capturing 45 % from the ground and 36 % from 3-point vary. He has 5 performances this season of 25 or extra factors, hitting 33 towards Kentucky on Jan. 4 in Lexington.
Mark Sears, Alabama
This is not any shock as a result of final season he was a second-team All-American whereas main the Crimson Tide to their first Final Four in class historical past. That stated, the fifth-year senior is tremendous secure and a really gifted offensive participant. The 6-1 guard, now in his third yr in Tuscaloosa after transferring from Ohio, is averaging 19.1 factors, 4.5 assists and three.1 rebounds per recreation with a capturing gene that is proper up there with the higher than them. Because of Sears, Alabama has the No. 1 offense, in line with KenPom. 2 in America.
Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
I’m a agency believer in the concept that workforce success breeds particular person success and that is why the 6-4 senior guard rounds out my checklist of the highest 10 gamers in males’s faculty basketball. Gilbert does quite a bit for the second-ranked Iowa State Cyclones, tallying 16.1 factors, 4.7 assists and three.6 rebounds per recreation, capturing 52 % from the ground and forcing almost two steals per recreation. Only two groups can say they’re within the prime 10 in KenPom-adjusted offensive and defensive effectivity: Duke and Iowa State. Gilbert does a lot on each ends, which permits TJ Otzelberger’s workforce to be the most effective in America.
Midseason Third Team All-Americans:
Kaspars Jakucionis, Illinois
Javon Piccolo, West Virginia
Dylan Harper, Rutgers
Danny Wolf, Michigan
Jeremiah fears, Oklahoma
John Fanta is a nationwide faculty basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports. He covers sports activities in quite a lot of roles, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as a lead anchor on the BIG EAST digital community to offering commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him to @John_Fanta.
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