Men's College Basketball 2023-24 All-American Projections
To the surprise of approximately nobody, star Purdue center Zach Edey is leading the charge of potential All-Americans during the 2023-24 men's college basketball season.
Edey, the reigning National Player of the Year, is practically a lock for first-team honors once again.
Who will join him, though?
Several familiar names are in the running, led by veteran post Hunter Dickinson and guard R.J. Davis. But there are plenty of deserving candidates around the nation, and about a month remains until the AP All-American lists are released in mid-March.
The list is entirely subjective but considers an individual's production and the historical factor of team success.
Third Team
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PJ Hall, Clemson
Clemson has recovered from an early ACC skid behind PJ Hall, a three-year starter who's having a career-best season. He's averaged 19.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks to put the program on track to make its first NCAA tournament since the 2020-21 campaign.
DaRon Holmes II, Dayton
Finally, we're going to see DaRon Holmes II in March Madness. Already a two-time All-Atlantic 10 player, he's provided 19.4 points per game while extending his range to the perimeter this season. Holmes has also chipped in 7.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.2 blocks per night for a Dayton squad that is contending for a top-four NCAA seed.
Mark Sears, Alabama
After a respectable debut season in Tuscaloosa, Mark Sears has elevated his game in 2023-24. The former Ohio transfer has racked up 20.5 points per contest, shooting 44.4 percent from beyond the arc and above 50 percent overall. Add in 4.0 assists and 1.7 steals, and Sears is a well-rounded catalyst for the tourney-bound Crimson Tide.
Jamal Shead, Houston
Jamal Shead's impact is not seen solely in box score statistics, but 2.1 steals per game is a good start. He leads the nation in both Defensive Win Shares and Defensive Box Plus/Minus. Shead's averages of 12.7 points and 5.8 assists with a 34.5 three-point clip are solid contributions, too.
Isaiah Stevens, Colorado State
Although the program routinely is competitive, Colorado State has only made the NCAA tournament in three of the last 20 seasons. As of now, the Rams should be avoiding the bubble—largely thanks to Isaiah Stevens. The veteran guard has produced 16.3 points and 7.5 assists per game, knocking down a sizzling 45.8 percent of his threes.
Second Team
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Kyle Filipowski, Duke
The moment Kyle Filipowski announced he would return to Duke for his sophomore year, expectations soared. As a freshman, he averaged 15.1 points while shooting 28.2 percent from three and 44.1 overall. This year, Filipowski has been more efficient at 17.4 points with a 34.5 long-range clip and 49.8 overall mark. He's also tallied 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 blocks per game.
Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State
San Diego State revolves around Jaedon LeDee, a well-traveled and versatile forward. He previously played at Ohio State and TCU before holding a key bench role on SDSU's national runner-up team last season. LeDee has joined the starting lineup and thrived to the tune of 20.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Johni Broome, Auburn
As the Tigers press toward a top-three NCAA seed, Johni Broome is leading the way. He's put up 16.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.0 assists per game, also ranking fourth nationally in Defensive Box Plus/Minus. Broome's development as a shooter has been impressive, too. He'd shot 25.0 percent from three in previous years combined but has knocked down 34.0 percent in 2023-24.
Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
Although his performance has dipped a bit lately, Kevin McCullar Jr. remains a strong contender for All-American honors. His scoring clip has soared from 10.7 per game to 19.5, and McCullar has drilled a career-best 36.1 percent of his threes. The well-rounded KU guard has also provided 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals per contest.
Tristen Newton, Connecticut
Efficiency is not a strength for Tristen Newton, who's hovering around 40 percent as a shooter. His impact can hardly be overstated, though. Newton is the catalyst of a high-scoring UConn offense with averages of 15.2 points and 5.8 assists, and the 6'5" guard is also the team's leading rebounder at 6.6 boards per game.
Tyler Kolek, Marquette
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Entering the last month of the regular season, get ready for a pair of impactful showdowns for Tyler Kolek's candidacy.
Newton and Kolek are among the lead contenders for Big East Player of the Year and first-team All-American status, and there's a couple of games between UConn and Marquette on the horizon. Their performance in those matchups may have a noticeable effect here.
No matter what happens, Kolek will be an All-American.
He averaged 12.9 points and 7.5 assists with a 39.8 three-point clip in his Big East POY-winning campaign last season. This year, he's improved to 15.6 points while dishing 7.5 assists per game and hitting 40.6 percent of his long-range attempts.
Depending on the results of those clashes with UConn, Marquette may have an argument for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tourney.
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RJ Davis, North Carolina
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What a roller coaster in Chapel Hill lately. North Carolina ended as the national runner-up in 2022, missed the NCAA tournament last season and is back to competing for an ACC crown this year.
RJ Davis has been along for the entire ride.
Most importantly, he's emerged as a more efficient perimeter force to complement double-double machine Armando Bacot. Davis has drilled a career-high 41.4 percent of his threes while taking 7.5 triples per game, and his 21.5-point scoring average leads the ACC.
North Carolina's depth is a simmering concern, but Davis is the driving force of the Tar Heels' immense upside.
Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
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Shaky offense, relative to top contenders, has doomed Tennessee in recent years. Dalton Knecht, a transfer from Northern Colorado, clearly has changed that perception in the 2023-24 regular season.
Knecht has poured in 20.3 points per game with a 40.5 three-point clip, and he's third nationally in Offensive Box Plus/Minus.
Led by a 39-point showing in a win over Florida, Knecht has scored 30-plus points in five games. He also dropped 25 points on Alabama and 24 against Wisconsin, a pair of potential top-three NCAA seeds.
Yes, the ultimate test is whether Knecht can sustain his performance in late March. His impact is undeniable, however.
Hunter Dickinson, Kansas
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In all likelihood, Hunter Dickinson will soon become an answer to a fun trivia question. He's about to earn All-American recognition with a second program.
The former Michigan star transferred to Kansas this offseason and has been the same ol' efficient player.
Dickinson is averaging 18-plus points for the third straight year, and he's snagged a career-high 10.8 rebounds per game. He's shooting 55.8 percent, which is right in line with previous seasons.
McCullar could end up outshining the left-handed forward down the stretch, but Dickinson is KU's current first-team front-runner.
Zach Edey, Purdue
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We can argue plenty of choices. Do you believe Newton will ultimately surpass Kolek? All good. Think you might prefer McCullar over Dickinson? Worth a conversation, among several others.
But there is no argument here.
Zach Edey has gathered 23.2 points per outing while shooting 62.3 percent from the floor. He leads the country in Win Shares, Box Plus/Minus and Player Efficiency Rating, and he's third in rebounds per game at 11.7. Edey has also swatted 2.3 shots per night.
Purdue is chasing the No. 1 overall seed for March Madness, and Edey could become the first repeat National Player of the Year since Virginia's Ralph Sampson in the early 1980s.
Stats are accurate as of Tuesday and are via Sports Reference unless otherwise noted.
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