With just 26 days left until Selection Sunday, Breitbart Sports announces the College All-American basketball team. The following is the best starting five you could put on the court today, as well as the second team and final bench spots that would fill a roster. The basis for the selections are the Value Add rankings, but the roster is picked by position to make sure Cody Zeller is not playing with four guards, etc.
Numbers listed are for identification purposes in pictures, and are not the actual Value Add rankings.
1. (PG) Trey Burke Michigan 6′ 0 So
A point guard who has scored double figures in every game, and had between 4 and 12 assists in all game but one – best player in the country.
2 (SG) Erick Green Virginia Tech 6′ 3″ Sr
Despite drawing all of the defensive attention as the only star on the last place Hokies, Green has scored an incredible 25 points or more all but two games during the eight game losing streak, and in the narrow loss to NC State he added 8 assists.
3. (SF) Victor Oladipo Indiana 6′ 5″ Jr
Ranks 3rd in Value Add for the entire year, but first since January 1. Third best shooter in the country (69.2% eFG%), 18th in steals despite playing in the toughest conference, and can defend guards or forwards.
4. (PF) Otto Porter Georgetown 6′ 8″ So
Since missing the first two games, Porter has scored 29% as many points (337) and his Hoyas have allowed (1166), so when you combine his offense and defense and being in the national leaders in shooting, defensive rebounding, not turning the ball over, blocked shots, steals, and drawing fouls, Porter is a first team.
5 (C) Cody Zeller Indiana 7′ 0 So
Value Pre-season Player of the Year is the best center in the country to give Hoosiers a 1st Team All-American combo.
Second Team All-Americans
6 (PG) Shabazz Napier Connecticut 6′ 1″ Jr
Kemba Walker’s national champion sidekick is now the leader, and with 26 assists in the last three games including the upset of Syracuse, Napier has UConn playing well enough to be a tournament threat if not on probation.
7. (SG) Nate Wolters South Dakota St. 6′ 4″ Sr
It’s hard to remember Wolters has been in the top 2% of all players in assists when you see him light up Alabama for 30, New Mexico for 28, Western Illinois for 28, Oakland for 36 – and IUPU Fort Wayne for 53. Tell Cotton and Napier to get him the ball.
8 (PG/SG) Bryce Cotton Providence 6′ 1″ Jr
Cotton’s three 3-pointers in the 71-54 rout of Notre Dame was the 11th time in 14 games he has hit at least that many, and with backcourt mate Kris Dunn healthy again he has led the Friars to four straight wins as one of the top shooters and assist to turnover guys in the nation.
9. (SF) Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Georgia 6′ 5″ So
While www.kenpom.com rates the trio of Gators higher, Value Add believes KCP is the POY (Player of the Year) of the SEC. Even in the last two losses to Alabama and Mississippi, he had 41 pointsw and 20 rebounds, and he steals the ball on more than 4% of all opponents trips down the court.
10. (C) Mike Muscala Bucknell 6′ 11″ Sr
The top defensive rebounder in the country (29.1% of all opponents’ missed shots) is also in the top 2% of all players in blocking shots, and even one of the top assists guys in the country despite playing center. His 25 point, 14 rebound, 4 assist game at Missouri shows he could do it at any level.
Rest of the All-American Roster (NCAA allows 13 scholarships)
(C) Mason Plumlee Duke 6′ 10″ Sr
While he has fallen to 11th in Value Add after looking exhausted in a 4-point performance against Maryland, Plumlee would still see a lot of time off the bench with the second team being mainly guards. He is in the top 2% of all players in shooting, drawing fouls and getting to the line.
(G) Ray McCallum Detroit 6′ 3″ Jr
The coaches son is one of the most versatile in the country, scoring 30 against UW-Green Bay on February 9, then taking only 10 shots to score 16 points against Cleveland State while grabbing 13 rebounds, 4 steals and dishing out 8 assists. He just nudges out Louisville’s Russ Smith for the last spot.
(C – injury Red Shirt) – Nerlens Noel Kentucky 6′ 10″ Fr
You get 13 spots on NCAA Rosters even if some of them are redshirting or injured. Noel was in the top 10 before his season-ending injury against Florida, and he would certainly get the 13th and final scholarship allowed on our All-American roster so we can all look forward to what the best defensive player in years can do next year.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.