College Basketball's All-Week 4 First Team: Top Performers at Every Position

This is a regular week in review—an examination of Sunday to Saturday of college basketball games.

Already in Week 4, we're also already in reruns with some players notching first- or second-team highlights among a slew of fine selections from around the country.

But we simply can't avoid a certain Michigan State star senior, and we can't ignore a certain LSU top-notch freshman (even as his team isn't living up to his individual hype).

So here we go...

Big scoring games are always in consideration, of course. But we're also continuing to look at other storylines that made a player's performance special during the last seven days. Sometimes, it's one big game; other times, it's a two-fer. We even look at one player this week who had the singular play we have been talking about all week.

We've started these weekly all-star teams this season, and it's been a blast: It goes position by position, even including some off-the-bench studs.

Other great players and performances missed the cut this week, but hook back up with us in the comments and let us know where we can do better.

On to the weekly highlights...

Point Guard: Marcus Paige (North Carolina)

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 1 vs. Maryland: 20 points, five assists, two rebounds

It was pretty simple what North Carolina needed to again look like an NCAA title contender: Get its star back. Paige wasted zero time looking ready to go, assisting on the Tar Heels' first basket and banging a three-pointer for the second. Broken hand? What broken hand?

Coach Roy Williams made the postgame comment that it's easy to look like a better coach when a guy like Paige is out there. He's a two-time UNC MVP, and his 34 minutes against similarly strong Maryland showed why: Making seven of his 12 shots, including four three-pointers (in five attempts).

And keep an eye on this history: He's just five made treys away from being the proud program's all-time best three-point maker.

Second Team: Kyle Collinsworth (BYU)

Nov. 28 vs. Belmont: 26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists; Dec. 2 vs. Utah: 15 points, nine rebounds, five assists; Dec. 5 vs. Weber State: 15 points, 10 assists, four rebounds

Now, we said in the first slide that we wouldn't count previous Saturday games, but we have to make an amendment for BYU's senior. That's because a Sunday (day after) change by the NCAA—a rebound recount—made him the NCAA's all-time triple-double leader. It was his first of the season and seventh of his career, passing Shaquille O'Neal. 

Shooting Guard: A.J. English (Iona)

Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 1 vs. Fairfield: 46 points, eight assists, three rebounds

Dec. 4 vs. Marist: 16 points, nine assists, six rebounds

Iona annually runs one of the country's fastest offenses. It's particularly exciting when a guy is hitting shots like English did Tuesday, scorching Fairfield at home to make 13 of his 19 three-point tries. It was actually only a a 47-41 halftime lead for Iona (MAAC front-runner) before a 30-14 surge out of the break was fueled by 20 English points, including five three-pointers. English will be a top contender for his league's POY race.

Second Team: Jack Gibbs (Davidson)

Dec. 1 vs. Charlotte: 41 points, three assists

We're cheating a little, because Gibbs at 6'0" is more of a point guard. However, he averages about twice as many three-point attempts as assists (eight to about 3.8) and deserves mention this week for his big game in front of the ultimate Davidson shooting star. Gibbs made his first 14 shots from the field (finishing 14-of-17) as Steph Curry watched from behind the bench. Gibbs made six of his seven three-point shots. 

Small Forward (Wing): Denzel Valentine (Michigan State)

Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 29 vs. Providence: 17 points, six rebounds, five assists

Dec. 2 vs. Louisville: 25 points, five rebounds, seven assists

Dec. 5 vs. Binghamton: 13 points, 12 rebounds, four assists

This author took some heat last week for not including Denzel Valentine, despite some strong games against Boise State and Boston College. But then he was very good against Providence last Sunday night to win the DirecTV Wooden Legacy in the Los Angeles area, right at the start of the new weekly cycle of this slideshow. And he was all sorts of money against Louisville three nights later.

Valentine has set himself up as the favorite for national POY, scoring 11 points in the final five minutes against the Cardinals. And look at that picture above—that dude is locked in right now.

Second Team: Brandon Ingram (Duke)

Nov. 29 vs. Utah State: eight points, six rebounds, two assists; Dec. 2 vs. Indiana: 24 points, six rebounds, two assists; Dec. 5 vs. Buffalo: 23 points, eight rebounds, four blocks

We're rewarding a slump-buster here. Ingram had made one of his previous 10 three-point attempts before facing Indiana. Then he went off, keyed up by a supportive home crowd and some teammates who set him up well off second-chance opportunities. Ingram looked like a top-five recruit in the 20-point win. His performance against Buffalo was just further justification that this kid's probably gonna be alright.

Power Forward: Ben Bentil (Providence)

Gretchen Ertl/Associated Press

Nov. 29 vs. Michigan State: 20 points, seven rebounds

Dec. 2 vs. Hartford: 21 points, six rebounds, two blocks

Dec. 5 vs. Rhode Island: 23 points, eight rebounds

Ben Bentil has really come on strong this year to be a big-time support to Kris Dunn. The sophomore made 26 of his 40 shots during the three-game week in this evaluation period, with nine of his 12 in the in-state rivalry game—including a putback at the buzzer to win, 74-72.

Second Team: Ben Simmons (LSU)

Nov. 30 vs. Charleston: 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists; Dec. 2 vs. North Florida: 43 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks

Honestly, we had him as a repeat first-teamer until Bentil's Rhode Island effort nudged him up top. We're still not sure if LSU is going to be even close to the at-large-bid bubble come early March. But we'll take Simmons as the No. 1 NBA draft pick this summer—any day of the week. "I'm tired of losing," the freshman said afterward. We can only hope that catches on in Baton Rouge because we want this guy playing big games for awhile.

Center: A.J. Hammons (Purdue)

Jessica Hill/Associated Press

Dec. 1 vs. Pitt: 24 points, 12 rebounds

Dec. 5 vs. New Mexico: 16 points, 11 rebounds

A.J. Hammons made 17 of his 25 shots in two games and was a particular monster against Pitt, said coach Matt Painter: "I thought A.J. did a great job of finishing.

"When A.J. came alive and was making some plays, it opened things up ,and Ryan stepped up and made some 3s." It was a season high for points and it couldn't have come at a better time—Isaac Haas had only six points and two rebounds because of foul trouble.

Second Team: Thomas Welsh (UCLA)

Nov. 29 vs. Cal State Northridge: eight points, seven rebounds, one assist; Dec. 3 vs. Kentucky: 21 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks

Welsh became a pick-and-pop wizard against one of the national-title favorites. Welsh did most of his damage in the second half as the Bruins are trying to find themselves after starting with a horrible home game against Monmouth and a rough trip to the Maui Invitational. 

"The big kid played great," Kentucky coach John Calipari said of the 7-footer who outplayed his own big guy, Skal Labissiere. "That may have been his best game of his life."

Off the Bench: Prince Ali (UCLA)

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 29 vs. Cal State Northridge: 11 points, one assist

Dec. 3 vs. Kentucky: eight points, three rebounds

Talk about making the most of 12 minutes. Prince Ali threw down possibly the dunk of the year—we may even be saying that at the end of March, if UCLA really builds on this game—when he climbed the ladder against Kentucky's Alex Poythress. 

Second Team: James Farr (Xavier)

Nov. 29 vs. Dayton: eight points, seven rebounds, three blocks; Dec. 5 vs. Western Kentucky: 18 points, five rebounds, two blocks

Farr, a senior forward, was the model of efficiency this week. He needed just 35 minutes for two very strong efforts to help the Musketeers. He made 11 of 18 shots, continuing a trend of shooting close to 60 percent over the previous three.