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

We’re a little less than 12 weeks away from Selection Sunday!

That means it’s the perfect time to unveil our list of early season All-Americans for the 2024-25 college basketball season.

Check below for our list first, second, and third team early season All-Americans along with a few players who were named honorable mention:

FIRST TEAM

Johni Broome, Auburn
Current Stats: 18.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.6 blocks
The Skinny: The strong favorite thus far to be National Player of the Year, Broome has been the best player on arguably the best team in the sport. A fifth-year senior, Broome’s experience has resonated to all areas of the box score as he can impact a game in a plethora of ways. The 6-10 lefty is averaging career-highs in every major statistical category as he aims to lead the Tigers to the Final Four for the second time under Bruce Pearl.

Cooper Flagg, Duke
Current Stats: 16.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks
The Skinny: The hype was ridiculous for Flagg before he ever played a college game, but he’s lived up to the billing. An effortless talent, the 6-9 freshman looks like he’s playing the game some times on fast forward while all other nine players on the floor are on pause. He’s already had three games this season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Flagg is the primary reason why the Blue Devils should have an excellent chance to reach their first Final Four under Jon Scheyer in 2025.

Kam Jones, Marquette
Current Stats: 20.3 points, 6.4 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals
The Skinny: There is no debate — Jones has been the best guard in the sport during the first two months of the season. With Tyler Kolek no longer in the Golden Eagles’ program, Jones has flourished as a scoring point guard. The 6-5 lefty doesn’t get enough credit though for his efficiency as he’s shooting a ridiculous 54 percent from the field while boasting an assist-to-turnover ratio that’s slightly better than 4:1. With four more assists, Jones will tie his assist total from all of last season.

Mark Sears, Alabama
Current Stats: 17.8 points, 3.9 assists, 3.3 rebounds
The Skinny: Sears had a slower start to the season than most anticipated, but over the last few weeks he regained his vintage form. The most efficient guard in the country a year ago when the Crimson Tide advanced to the Final Four for the first time in program history, Sears is having to adapt to a deeper and more talented supporting cast this season in Tuscaloosa. Like Broome, he’s another fifth-year senior who opted to return to college for his COVID year.

Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
Current Stats: 11.4 points, 7.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds
The Skinny: The reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year has separated himself as the sport’s best two-way floor general. A tenacious defender, the 5-9 Zeigler may not have the pizzazz of some of the other elite point guards in the sport, but none are better at running a team and taking away an opponent at the other end of the floor. Zeigler is currently averaging a career-highs in both assists (7.6) and rebounds (3.7).

SECOND TEAM

Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Current Stats: 15.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 blocks, 1.5 steals
The Skinny: It feels like Dickinson has been in college since Denny Crum was at Louisville. For five years, this 7-2 big man has been a model of consistency. He’s played his best basketball this season of late for the Jayhawks as he’s averaging 18.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.7 blocks in his last three games.

Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
Current Stats: 16.5 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds
The Skinny: Gilbert’s progression since the end of last season is a major reason for the Cyclones’ 10-1 start. The 6-4 guard is currently leading Iowa State in points and assists while shooting a career-high 54.5 percent from the field. On a team that possesses tremendous balance, Gilbert has separated himself in his fourth year of college basketball.

Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
Current Stats: 18.9 points, 3.0 rebounds
The Skinny: For the second straight year, the Vols have landed the most productive player in the transfer portal. Just like Dalton Knecht last season, the 6-4 Lanier has quickly cemented himself as the go-to scorer in Knoxville and one of the best players in the sport. He’s scored 22 or more points in four of his first 11 games and has had six games during that span where he’s made four or more three-point shots. Lanier — who transferred from North Florida — is the type of player that rolls out of bed and scores in double figures.

Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
Current Stats: 11.8 points, 10.2 assists
The Skinny: The nation’s leader in assists, Nembhard has been a steady presence throughout his four-year college career. This year is no different, but it’s the first time he’s ever averaged double figure assists while shooting 40 percent from three-point range, which is a career-high. Nembhard’s assist-to-turnover ratio is nearly 5:1, which is simply incredible considering how much he has the ball throughout the course of a game. This is the gas in the engine in Spokane.

Braden Smith, Purdue
Current Stats: 12.9 points, 8.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 steals
The Skinny: Smith was an ancillary piece to the Boilers’ puzzle last season when they advanced to the national title game. He’s now the face of Purdue’s program at the most important position on the floor. This junior point guard does everything except sell popcorn and is averaging career-highs in points, assists, and steals. He’s also shooting an impressive 42.1 percent from three-point range. It’s going to be a sad day in West Lafayette whenever this guy is no longer running the Boilers’ offense.

THIRD TEAM

Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
Current Stats: 17.9 points, 6.6 rebounds
The Skinny: Matt Painter knew for two years that Kaufman-Renn was capable of producing at this level, but he was just stuck playing behind and then alongside Zach Edey. With Edey now in the NBA, the 6-9 Kaufman-Renn has instantly become one of college basketball’s best post players. He’s been a consistent presence for the Boilers inside and is now becoming a focal point on every opponent’s scouting report.

Alex Karaban, UConn
Current Stats: 16.5 points, 5.1 rebounds
The Skinny: The best winner in college basketball, Karaban’s teams are a combined 78-14 during his three-year college career. He’s now seamlessly stepping into his role as the Huskies’ go-to scorer. The 6-8 junior has scored 20 or more points in four of his last five games and is shooting a career-high 42.1 percent from three-point range.

Walter Clayton Jr., Florida
Current Stats:  17.6 points, 3.5 assists, 3.6 rebounds
The Skinny: The least appreciated player on the least appreciated team in college basketball is again playing like one of the best players in the sport. The big difference though in Clayton this season versus last? His team is winning on a much bigger level. The Gators are currently 12-0 and should be undefeated when they begin SEC play against Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Jan. 4th. Clayton’s statistical output has had essentially no drop since he transferred from Iona to Florida two years ago.

Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
Current Stats: 18.0 points, 4.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals
The Skinny: Fears’ decision to reclassify into the 2024 class has single handedly changed the course of the Sooners’ season. Seasoned and mature beyond his years, the 6-4 Fears has performed with the poise of an upperclassmen at the most important position on the floor. His presence is the major reason why Oklahoma is 12-0 and the most surprising team in college basketball.

Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M
Current Stats: 16.0 points, 4.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals
The Skinny: The Aggies are a dark horse pick for the 2025 Final Four and Taylor is one of the major reasons why. The heartbeat of Texas A&M’s operation, Taylor is having the best all-around season of his four-year college career. He’s shooting a career-high 36.0 percent from three-point range, but has also adapted to a better supporting cast as he’s scoring less and doing a tremendous job of running the Aggies’ offense. In back-to-back wins recently over both Purdue and Texas Tech, Taylor tallied nine assists to just two turnovers.

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Eric Dixon, Villanova
  • John Tonje, Wisconsin
  • Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
  • Dylan Harper, Rutgers
  • Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois

Leftovers