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Early Season All-Americans for the 2023-24 college basketball season

We’re only 11 and a half weeks away from Selection Sunday!

That means it’s the perfect time to unveil our list of early season All-Americans for the 2023-24 college basketball season.

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

FIRST TEAM

Zach Edey, Purdue
Current Stats: 24 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks
The Skinny: The reigning National Player of the Year has the inside track to be the first player to win the award in back-to-back seasons since Ralph Sampson did it at Virginia in the early 1980s. Edey is currently averaging career-highs in both scoring and blocks.

Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
Current Stats: 18.3 points, 12.5 rebounds
The Skinny: The marriage between Dickinson and Bill Self was expected to be a great one, but it’s probably going better than anyone anticipated. Tailor made for Kansas’ system, this is the first time in Dickinson’s college career that he’s averaging a double-double; the 7-2 big man previously never averaged more than nine rebounds in a season during his three years at Michigan. He’s also shooting 60.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range, which are both career-highs.

Kevin McCullar, Kansas
Current Stats: 20.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals
The Skinny: Two first-team All-Americans from the same program? You better believe it. In addition to Dickinson, the 6-6 McCullar has earned his place among the nation’s elite. A COVID senior, McCullar has always been an effective rebounder, but he’s currently doubled both his scoring and assist averages from last season. McCullar’s three-point shooting has also dramatically improved as he’s already tallied 20 made shots from long distance — he only made 29 during all of last season.

Tristen Newton, UConn
Current Stats: 16.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals
The Skinny: Another COVID senior, the 6-5 Newton has gone from an ancillary piece on last season’s team that won the national title to the Huskies’ key initiator at the point of attack. He’s also immensely improved his ball security as he currently boasts an assist-to-turnover ratio that’s currently better than 2:1.

Tyler Kolek, Marquette
Current Stats: 15.3 points, 6.2 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals
The Skinny: Last season’s Big East Player of the Year continues to be surgical at the point guard position. An elite table setter, Kolek has 25 assists in his last three games. There’s no reason why this guy can’t be a left-handed version of T.J. McConnell down the road.

SECOND TEAM

PJ Hall, Clemson
Current Stats: 20.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks
The Skinny: Many people expected the Tigers to be better this season, but nobody expected Hall to emerge into one of the best players in the country. This 6-10 senior is a throwback to what college sports used to be — when players stayed at one school for four years and gradually continued to improve. Hall can score, rebound, and defend his position — he’s got the entire package.

Kyle Filipowski, Duke
Current Stats: 17.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks
The Skinny: Filipowski isn’t playing alongside another dominant big man like he did a year ago with Dereck Lively, but he’s still producing at a high level. He’s been especially effective on the glass in the last month, tallying 68 rebounds in his last six games. If Duke goes on a deep run in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the 7-foot Filipowski will have a major hand in the process.

Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois
Current Stats: 21.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 blocks
The Skinny: Another COVID senior? This trend is not an accident. The Illini may be the top team in the Big Ten this season after Purdue this season and that directly correlates with Shannon’s decision to return to school for a fifth-year. He’s averaging career-highs in points, field-goal percentage (51.4), three-point field-goal percentage (40.8), and blocks (1.3).

RJ Davis, North Carolina
Current Stats: 21.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists
The Skinny: Caleb Love’s decision to transfer to Arizona following last season opened the door for Davis’ numbers to spike. He’s currently scored at least 23 points in seven consecutive games and is also shooting a career-high 38.1 percent from three-point range. The Tar Heels look like they’ve returned to their rightful place nationally — Davis’ play is a major reason why.

Isaiah Stevens, Colorado State
Current Stats: 17.7 points, 7.9 assists
The Skinny: The Rams are the biggest surprise in college basketball and Stevens is the primary reason why. A COVID senior at the point guard position, the 6-foot floor general has led Colorado State to wins over Creighton, Washington, Boston College, and Colorado as he often dethrones opponents with the biggest weapon that he has — his heart.

THIRD TEAM

Armando Bacot, North Carolina
Current Stats: 15.1 points, 11 rebounds, 1.9 blocks
The Skinny: This is the third straight season that Bacot — a fifth-year senior — is averaging a double-double. He’s already had two games this season with at least 18 rebounds, including a 20-rebound effort against Lehigh on Nov. 12th.

Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State
Current Stats: 21.6 points, 9.4 rebounds
The Skinny: LeDee is having the type of season for the Aztecs that Obi Toppin had for Dayton in 2019-20. With Matt Bradley no longer a part of the Aztecs’ program following last season’s run to the national title game, the 6-9 LeDee has taken his place as San Diego State’s primary scorer. He’s already had four games this season with at least 21 points and 10 rebounds.

David Jones, Memphis
Current Stats: 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals
The Skinny: The 6-6 Jones had flashes of brilliance at both St. John’s and DePaul, but he’s solidified himself as one of the best wings in college basketball during his short tenure with the Tigers. He’s already had eight games this season with 20 or more points — he only had three last season with the Red Storm.

Johnell Davis, Florida Atlantic
Current Stats: 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals
The Skinny: The 6-4 Davis is leading the Owls in scoring, rebounding, and steals on the heels of a 35-point, nine rebound performance in last Saturday’s double-overtime win over Arizona in Las Vegas. The most underrated part of Davis’ game? His ability to hit the boards. Despite only standing 6-4, he’s already had six games this season with nine or more rebounds.

LJ Cryer, Houston
Current Stats: 17 points, 2.7 rebounds
The Skinny: The Cougars’ defense has anchored their 12-0 start, but Cryer is the head of the snake for this team offensively. A transfer from Baylor, the 6-1 guard is currently shooting 38.8 percent from three-point range and has already had six games this season where he’s made four or more three-point shots. Cryer will be Kelvin Sampson’s go-to guy as Houston gets set to begin Big 12 play in January.

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Joel Soriano, St. John’s
  • Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
  • Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
  • KJ Simpson, Colorado
  • Boo Buie, Northwestern

Leftovers