LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA – Since about mid-January or so, the play of Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis has rendered moot or all “debate” about Player of the Year honors.
He has been that rarest of highly touted freshmen – his performance has exceeded all of the immense expectation that accompanied him from Chicago to Lexington.
Davis leads BurlisonOnBasketball.com’s 20-player All-American selections.
And away we go . . .
[h3]FIRST TEAM[/h3]
Anthony Davis 6-10 220 Fr. Kentucky
Frank Says: In a sense, it’s too bad this is his only season of college hoops – it would be cool to measure a full college career against those turned in by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton when they were at UCLA. Yes, I’m suggesting that he could prove to be the most gifted and dominant big man to come out of college basketball since the two Bruins. OK, I’ll throw Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson and Tim Duncan into that mix, as well (smile).
Thomas Robinson 6-8 230 Jr. Kansas
Frank Says: How much has this guy improved over the course of three college seasons? That’s a rhetorical question.
Draymond Green 6-7 240 Sr. Michigan State
Frank Says: Off the top of my head I’d say he’s one of the five best – at least – players that Tom Izzo has coached.
Kendall Marshall 6-3 185 So. North Carolina
Frank Says: If there has been a better and more reliable passer at a “BCS” program over the past two seasons, I’ve yet to watch him play.
Marcus Denmon 6-3 185 Sr. Missouri
Frank Says: The best of the “pure 2 guards” in the country this season. What a jump shot!
[h3]SECOND TEAM[/h3]
Jared Sullinger 6-8 270 So. Ohio State
Frank Says: He didn’t have the “consensus Player of the Year”-type season many (myself) anticipated. I’ll forgive him.
Doug McDermott 6-7 230 So. Creighton
Frank Says: Call it a hunch but a year from now he’ll lead the Bluejays into nothing worse but the Round of 16.
Jae Crowder 6-6 235 Sr. Marquette
Frank Says: The Big East Player of the Year is one of the five best players this season but I had to get some “true” guards on the first team.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 6-7 220 Fr. Kentucky
Frank Says: Truth be told, he and Davis are just two of six players on the Wildcats’ squad worthy of sort of All-American mention.
Damian Lillard 6-3 190 Jr. Weber State
Frank Says: It’s a shame this guy didn’t get to play in the NCAA Tournament during his three seasons. He could be the first point guard-type chosen in June’s NBA Draft.
[h3]THIRD TEAM[/h3]
Tyler Zeller 7-0 240 Sr. North Carolina
Frank Says: He’s got more scoring skills than any player at his size range on the college level.
Kris Joseph 6-7 205 Sr. Syracuse
Frank Says: The best individual on what is probably the deepest team in the country this season. He’ll be selected a lot earlier in the next NBA Draft than some media-types realize.
Kevin Jones 6-8 240 Sr. West Virginia
Frank Says: Jae Crowder pulled ahead of him in the Big East POY race over the last month.
Tyshawn Taylor 6-3 190 Sr. Kansas
Frank Says: Yes – there were a lot of very good players in the Big 12 Conference. And he was, conservatively, one of the five best.
Isaiah Canaan 6-0 190 Jr. Murray State
Frank Says: Pound-for-pound and inch-for-inch, he was about as good a scorer as could be found on the college level this season.
[h3]FOURTH TEAM[/h3]
Cody Zeller 6-11 230 Fr. Indiana
Frank Says: How sweet would a Sweet 16 showdown with North Carolina – and Zeller’s bro Tyler – have been?
Mike Scott 6-8 235 Sr. Virginia
Frank Says: For a significant part of the season, this guy looked as if he was going to be the ACC Player of the Year.
Royce White 6-8 270 So. Iowa State
Frank Says: His game and skills remind me a bit of Clark Kellogg’s during his Ohio State days.
Scott Machado 6-1 180 Sr. Iona
Frank Says: This generation’s Ernie DiGregorio. And I hope a big portion of you are old enough to realize how praiseworthy that is.
C.J. McCollum 6-3 190 Jr. Lehigh
Frank Says: He turned in one of the best performances (30 points, six rebounds and six assists) of the NCAA Tournament while helping make the Duke Blue Devils go the “one-and-done” route.
Top Senior: Draymond Green
Top Junior: Thomas Robinson
Top Sophomore: Doug McDermott
Top Freshman: Anthony Davis
[h2]PLAYER OF THE YEAR | DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR | FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR[/h2]
[h3]Anthony Davis[/h3]
