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Preseason All-Americans for the 2024-25 college basketball season

49 days from today there will be college basketball!

Check out below for our list of preseason All-Americans for the 2024-25 season:

FIRST TEAM

Hunter Dickinson, Kansas: A year ago, I wrote about how the 7-2 Dickinson was tailor made for Bill Self’s system. He didn’t disappoint, averaging 17.9 points and 10.9 rebounds a year ago in his first season in Lawrence. The big thing to keep in mind for Dickinson with the Jayhawks in 2024-25? He’ll play with more space on offense thanks to the additions of AJ Storr (Wisconsin), Rylan Griffen (Alabama), and Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State), who will all serve as reinforcements for Kansas via the transfer portal.

Johni Broome, Auburn: An elite rim protector, the 6-10 Broome is an integral part of the Tigers’ aggressive defense and had 16 games last season with three or more blocks. He also tallied 14 double-doubles, including a 24-point, 13-rebound effort against Yale last March in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. A fifth-year senior, Broome is a major reason why Auburn is again expected to be one of the top teams in the SEC in 2024-25.

Caleb Love, Arizona: After spending the first three years of his college career at North Carolina, Love averaged career-highs in points (18.0), rebounds (4.8), assists (3.4), and steals (1.2) last season at Arizona en route to becoming the Pac-12 Player of the Year. A fifth-year senior, the 6-4 Love will be the steward for the Wildcats as they transition into a new era in the Big 12.

RJ Davis, North Carolina: Davis flourished last season as the Tar Heels’ perimeter focal point, earning ACC Player of the Year honors along with a spot as a first-team All-American. An elite shooter, Davis made 113 three-point shots last season while shooting an impressive 39.8 percent from long distance. Prior to last year, he never made more than 66 three-point shots in a season during his college career.

Mark Sears, Alabama: If Sears played for Villanova instead of Alabama, he’d regularly be compared to Jalen Brunson. That is not hyperbole. The 6-1 lefty is the sport’s most efficient guard and shot 50.8 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from three-point range as a year ago as he willed the Crimson Tide to the Final Four for the first time in program history. Sears averaged 24.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in five games during the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

SECOND TEAM

Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton: A three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, the 7-1 Kalkbrenner has been the backbone of the Bluejays’ success over the past few seasons, which has included back-to-back trips to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Blessed with the unique ability to defend without fouling, Kalkbrenner has never fouled out of a game in his college career.

Norchad Omier, Baylor: Omier’s decision to transfer to Waco immediately made the Bears a bonafide contender for the 2025 Final Four. An incredible rebounder despite only standing 6-7, Omier has averaged a double-double in all four years of his college career. He was an integral part of Miami’s run to the 2023 Final Four and averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds during his two years with the Hurricanes prior to transferring to Baylor.

Cooper Flagg, Duke: A generational talent, the 6-9 Flagg is the highest profile freshman to enter college basketball in several years. Universally viewed as the top player in the 2024 class, Flagg is projected to be the top overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Kadary Richmond, St. John’s: The epitome of a swiss-army knife, the 6-6 Richmond is a threat to tally a triple-double every time that he takes the floor. After three seasons at Seton Hall, Richmond transferred to St. John’s during the offseason, where he’ll immediately be a focal point under Rick Pitino. He averaged 13.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.6 steals, and 1.0 block last spring in five games in the Postseason NIT.

Braden Smith, Purdue: College Hoops Today’s Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, Smith now becomes to the go-to option for Purdue as the Boilers aim to transition post-Zach Edey. The 6-foot floor general averaged 12.0 points, 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals last season as Purdue reached the Final Four for the first time since 1980.

THIRD TEAM

Graham Ike, Gonzaga: Ike averaged 16.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in three NCAA Tournament games last March and showed the same type of interior savvy that made him the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year two years ago at Wyoming before he transferred to Spokane. His presence inside at 6-9 is a major reason why the Bulldogs are currently ranked EIGHTH in the ROTHSTEIN 45.

Alex Karaban, UConn: A two-year starter on back-to-back teams that won the national title in dominant fashion, the 6-8 Karaban is now primed to take on a primary role in Storrs as a junior. He’s only had 26 games over the past two seasons with double-figure field-goal attempts, which led to averages of 15.5 points and 5.6 rebounds during that span. Expect Karaban to take a tangible step forward in 2024-25.

Kam Jones, Marquette: An unsung star, Jones doesn’t get nearly the credit that he deserves for the Golden Eagles’ success over the past few years, which includes back-to-back two seeds in the past two NCAA Tournaments. How good is Jones? He averaged 20.8 points and was 32-62 from three-point range in the seven games that Tyler Kolek missed for Marquette last season due to an oblique injury. This guy is the real deal.

LJ Cryer, Houston: An honorable mention All-American by the AP last season, Cryer was the leading scorer (15.5 points) on a team that was one of the top four seeds in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. An elite shooter, Cryer made 112 three-point shots last season while shooting 38.8 percent from long distance.

Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M: A high-volume scorer, Taylor’s game may be an acquired taste for some, but when he’s rolling he’s as dangerous as any guard in the sport. He was especially effective last spring when the Aggies played their way into the NCAA Tournament, averaging 24.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in six games during the postseason. This kid is a gamer.

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Oumar Ballo, Indiana
  • Great Osobor, Washington
  • Johnell Davis, Arkansas
  • Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
  • Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State

Leftovers