Here is the next piece of the Ultra Early 2014-15 season preview: the All-America Teams.
Note: There are a bunch of players who would be All-Americans but are expected to leave school early for the NBA Draft. They have been left out off these teams but will be added if they surprise us and decide to come back to school.
First Team
Marcus Paige, North Carolina
- Paige was already very good as a freshman but exploded as a sophomore. Paige averaged 17.5 points and 4.2 assists last season while shooting 38.9% from 3-point range. He will be a national player of the year contender.
Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
- The Catch and Shoot already named Wisconsin the No. 1 team for the 2014-15 season, and Dekker is one of the team’s top players. He averaged 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds last season as a sophomore. No reason to expect any less from him in the fall and winter.
Georges Niang, Iowa State
- Niang did not get a chance to shine much in March because of a foot injury in Iowa State’s second-round game against North Carolina Central. But he constantly causes mismatches and is the early favorite for Big 12 Player of the Year. He averaged 16.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season.
Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
- Kaminsky exploded onto the scene last season as a junior. He averaged just 4.2 points and 1.8 rebounds as a sophomore and increased his numbers to 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. The 7-footer can score in the post and from the perimeter.
Jahlil Okafor, Duke
- There’s a reason Okafor is considered the top recruit in the Class of 2014. He is a dominating presence in the post and is also improving his mid-range game. He is not dominant on the defensive end but can still impact games there.
Second Team
Fred VanVleet, Wichita State
- VanVleet already gained recognition as one of the nation’s elite point guards last season, leading Wichita State to a perfect regular season. He is an amazing passer who rarely turns over the ball, and he can also score off drives and jump shots.
Juwan Staten, West Virginia
- Staten is coming off a breakout junior season where he averaged 18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He could contend with Niang for Big 12 Player of the Year.
Caris LeVert, Michigan
- LeVert is also coming off a breakout season. After being a role player as a freshman, he was moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore and averaged 12.9 points and shot nearly 41% from 3-point range. With his size and defensive ability as well, he will be one of the most-feared players in the Big Ten next season.
Trey Lyles, Kentucky
- Lyles is a beast and could be Kentucky’s best player next season as a freshman. He is as good of a post player as you will find in this recruiting class, and he can also knock down some mid-range jumpers. He is also a very solid defensive presence.
Cliff Alexander, Kansas
- Alexander is another freshman that will make a huge impact. He is extremely athletic and could lead the Big 12 in rebounding next season.
Third Team
Delon Wright, Utah
- Utah’s program appears ready to make the NCAA Tournament, and a huge part of that is thanks to Wright. The 6’5″ guard averaged 15.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.5 steals last season. He also shot 56.1% from the field.
Tyus Jones, Duke
- Jones and Okafor will make an unbelievable freshman duo at Duke. Jones is a great passer and playmaker, thriving in ball-screen situations. He can also slash to the rim and score.
Terran Petteway, Nebraska
- Petteway went from a nobody as a freshman at Texas Tech to one of the best players in the Big Ten as a sophomore at Nebraska. He averaged 18.1 points and 4.8 rebounds last season.
Branden Dawson, Michigan State
- Dawson is amazingly strong and athletic. The 6’6″ forward averaged 11.2 points and 8.3 rebounds last season for Michigan State, and he will be placed in a larger role for the 2014-15 season.
Dakari Johnson, Kentucky
- Johnson is presumably Kentucky’s only returning starter, as Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Julius Randle and James Young will most likely turn pro. Johnson averaged just 5.2 points and 3.9 rebounds for the 2013-14 season, but he improved a ton over the course of the season. He and Lyles could form the nation’s best starting frontcourt next season.
