College Basketball: Cody Zeller and Sporting News' Preseason All-American Teams

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Cody Zeller was selected as Sporting News' 2012-13 Preseason Player of the Year.

Zeller, a sophomore center from Indiana, headlines the fifteen players who were named on SN's preseason All-American teams, who were chosen by SN writers and editors, with input from a variety of coaches and scouts.

Here's a quick look at the three teams that feature four seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen.

Before going any further, see how many you can name!

Third Team

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Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State, G/F, 6-5/195, Jr.

B.J. Young, Arkansas, SG, 6-3/180, Soph.

Peyton Siva, Louisville, PG, 6-0/180, Sr.

Trey Burke, Michigan, PG, 6-0/190, Soph.

Adonis Thomas, Memphis, F, 6-7/252, Soph.

 

Siva (pictured) and Burke are two of the most dynamic PGs in the country.

They both break down their opponents off the dribble and cause all kinds of havoc in the lane.

Franklin is one of the best wings in the West, putting up nearly 18 points and pulling down almost eight rebounds per game last season.

Young is a sniper (50.4 percent from the field and 41.3 from beyond the arc) who might lead the SEC in scoring in 2012-13.

It will be exciting to see just how good Thomas is after he was limited because of injury to only 19 games as a freshman.

Second Team

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Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA, G/F, 6-6/225, Fr.

C.J. Leslie, NC State, PF, 6-9/200, Jr.

Isaiah Canaan, Murray State, PG, 6-1/195, Sr.

Michael Dixon, Missouri, G, 6-1/190, Sr.

Alex Poythress, Kentucky, SF, 6-7/215, Fr.

 

Leslie (pictured) has emerged as a key component to NC State's best team in more than 20 years.

Canaan returns as one of the top scorers (19 ppg) in the nation.

Dixon moves from being a boost off of the bench to a main provider of scoring punch in Mizzou's talented lineup.

Muhammad and Poythress are both relentless, attacking the rim at will from the wing.

First Team

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Cody Zeller, Indiana, C, 7-0/240, Soph. (SN's Preseason Player of the Year)

Doug McDermott, Creighton, F, 6-8/220, Jr.

James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina, PF, 6-9/230, Soph.

Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State, F, 6-7/215, Jr.

C.J. McCollum, Lehigh, PG, 6-3/190, Sr.

 

Even after torching Duke for 30 in the opening round of last year's NCAA tournament, McCollum (pictured) may be the best kept secret in college basketball.

McDermott's surprising ability to knock down three's (48.6 percent from beyond the arc last year) make him a unique challenge to stop.

McAdoo has all the tools to become the Tar Heels' next star.

Watch for Thomas to become an elite-level scorer for the Buckeyes in '12-13.

Zeller's all-around performance is what makes the Hoosiers so dangerous.