Bleacher Report's 2013-14 College Basketball All-American, All-Conference Picks

Jason King@@JasonKingBRSenior Writer, B/R MagMarch 10, 2014

Bleacher Report's 2013-14 College Basketball All-American, All-Conference Picks

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    Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

    Doug McDermott made it easy.

    After leading the nation in scoring with 26.5 points per game and surpassing the 3,000-point mark for his career, the Creighton senior was the obvious choice for the Bleacher Report National Player of the Year award.

    After that, though, picking our All-American and all-conference teams became tough.

    Who should fill the final first-team All-American slot, Russ Smith or Nick Johnson? Did Andrew Wiggins deserve to be named Big 12 Player of the Year after no-showing a handful of games? Who was the country’s most-improved player? What about the best sixth man? And the the best coach?

    OK, Gregg Marshall made that one easy, too.

    After debating and poring over stats for more than three hours at The Peanut and Kansas City (we included a 30-minute break for wings and BLTs) colleague C.J. Moore and I finally came to an agreement on the best and brightest of the 2013-14 season.

    Included in this slideshow is the Bleacher Report All-American team as well as the all-league squad for each of the country's top conferences.

    We’re sure you’ll agree with some of our picks. Others, maybe not so much. But that’s what makes it fun.

First-Team All-American: Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati

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    Fred Beckham/Associated Press

    With 2,092 career points, Sean Kilpatrick will be remembered as one of the best players in Cincinnati history. And after leading the Bearcats to a share of the AAC title, he’s finally getting the recognition he’s long deserved on the national level, too.

    Kilpatrick will enter the postseason averaging 20.9 points for a Cincinnati squad that is 26-5. He also leads the team in assists with 2.5 per game. Kilpatrick’s numbers are even more impressive when you consider that he plays for a team that is otherwise void of offensive stars.

    Even with opposing defenses designed to stop him, Kilpatrick finds ways to score or get to the foul stripe, where he shoots 84.4 percent.

First-Team All-American: Doug McDermott, Creighton

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    Nati Harnik/Associated Press

    Doug McDermott will become the first three-time first-team All-American since Patrick Ewing and Wayman Tisdale in 1985.

    No matter how you watch to judge his senior season, it has been a huge success. The Bluejays finished second in the first year of the new Big East and McDermott torched just about any defense he faced.

    And no longer can anyone say his numbers are the result of Creighton's competition. The Bluejays moved to the Big East and McDermott put together the best statistical year of his career. He leads the NCAA in scoring at 26.5 points per game and has been even better in conference play, averaging 27.7 points.

First-Team All-American: Shabazz Napier, Connecticut

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    Jessica Hill/Associated Press

    Not many players in the country are as clutch as Shabazz Napier, who always seems to be at his best in close games. He hit the game-winner to beat Florida on Dec. 2 and scored a season-high 34 points in an overtime win against Memphis on Feb. 15.

    Napier completed the regular season averaging career-highs in points (17.8) and rebounds (6.0) while also chipping in 5.2 assists. Those numbers shouldn’t come as a surprise considering Napier averaged 23.8 minutes a game as a freshman for Connecticut’s 2011 NCAA championship squad.

    Napier also deserves credit for staying loyal to Connecticut after academic-progress-rate issues caused the Huskies to be banned from last year’s NCAA tournament. He could’ve elected to play his final two seasons elsewhere, but Napier remained true to his word and remained in Stoors.

First-Team All-American: Jabari Parker, Duke

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    Gerry Broome/Associated Press

    Duke’s gaudy offensive stats (the Blue Devils average 79.8 points per game) wouldn’t be possible without Jabari Parker, who was a shoo-in for first-team honors.

    Parker averages 19.2 points and 9.0 rebounds—both team-highs—while shooting a respectable 47.8 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range.

    A 6’8” wing, Parker seems to play his best when the lights are the brightest. He had 27 points against Kansas in the Champions Classic, 23 points against UCLA at Madison Square Garden and a season-high 30 points in the regular-season finale against North Carolina.

First-Team All-American: Russ Smith, Louisville

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    Andy Lyons/Getty Images

    Russ Smith didn't exactly retire his Russdiculous persona, but he has become a much wiser version of himself in his senior season.

    Take Saturday, for instance. Smith, the guy who has always loved to shoot, took only two shots and dished out 13 assists in a blowout win over Connecticut.

    Smith has done whatever Rick Pitino has needed him to do this year. He's averaging a career-best 4.8 assists and still leads the Cards in scoring at 17.5 points per game.

    And if you're not convinced yet that he's not just a chucker without a conscience, look at his shooting percentages—39.4 percent from deep and 51.7 percent inside the arc. He's evolved into a much headier, patient scorer than the old Russdiculous.

Second-Team All-Americans

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    Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

    G Kyle Anderson, UCLA, sophomore - At 6’9”, Anderson has a unique skill set for his frame. He averages 6.6 assists as UCLA’s primary ball-handler but also leads the team in rebounds with 8.7 per contest. He ranks second on the Bruins with 14.9 points per game. One of college basketball’s most improved players, Anderson will likely enter this summer’s NBA draft.

    G Nick Johnson, Arizona, junior - The Wildcats’ leading scorer with 16.1 points per game, Johnson could’ve easily been a first-team pick. He’s an excellent defender who plays his best in big games but, more importantly, he’s blossomed into one of the best floor leaders in the country. His command of the huddle is one of the main reasons Arizona is regarded by some as the best team in America.

    G Marcus Paige, North Carolina, sophomore - The 6’1” point guard is the key reason the Tar Heels were able to avoid the potential distractions caused by the departure of Reggie Bullock and the dismissal of P.J. Hairston. Paige averages 17.1 points and shoots 39.5 percent from three-point range for a squad that has won 12 of its last 13 games. He holds the team together, on and off the court.

    G Nik Stauskas, Michigan, sophomore - One season after helping spark Michigan to the NCAA title game, Stauskas has blossomed into the best player in the Big Ten and a potential first-round pick in this summer’s NBA draft. He’s averaging 17.4 points and shooting 45.8 percent from beyond the arc for the Wolverines, who won the league title outright.

    G Fred VanVleet, Wichita State, sophomore - One of 10 finalists for the Naismith National Player of the Year award, VanVleet is the leader for the undefeated Shockers. He averages a team-high 5.3 assists per game and ranks third on the squad in scoring with 11.8 points. The Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year has had just four games all season with more than two turnovers.

Third-Team All-Americans

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    Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

    F Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico, senior - One season after averaging 9.7 points and 5.9 rebounds, Bairstow had a monster senior season by averaging 20.3 points and 7.2 boards while also contributing 1.5 blocks. Bairstow helped New Mexico to a 24-6 record and a second-place finish in the Mountain West Conference by reaching double figures in all but one game.

    G Tyler Ennis, Syracuse, freshman - There were times this season when Ennis—and not Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker—was the top freshman in college basketball. The point guard averages a team-high 5.6 assists and also contributes 12.3 points per game. His 40-foot game-winner against Pittsburgh was one of the biggest highlights of the season. Syracuse wouldn’t have won its first 25 games without Ennis.

    G DeAndre Kane, Iowa State, senior - Other than UCLA’s Kyle Anderson, the 6’4” Kane might be the most versatile guard in the country because of his ability to impact the game in so many facets. He averages 17.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per contest. The Marshall transfer helped the Cyclones win their first 14 games before going 11-7 in the nation’s toughest conference.

    G Andrew Wiggins, Kansas, freshman - A preseason first-team All-American, Wiggins struggled with his consistency for most of the season. But he’s been noticeably more assertive the past few weeks—a good sign for the Jayhawks as they enter the postseason. Wiggins is averaging 16.8 points, the best mark ever by a Kansas freshman. And he’s one of the top defensive players in the Big 12. He will likely be one of the top three players selected in this summer’s NBA draft.

    G Scottie Wilbekin, Florida, senior - There’s no question who runs the show for the nation’s No. 1-ranked team. Wilbekin averages 12.9 points and 3.9 assists, but it’s the point guard’s leadership and clutch play that benefits Florida the most. Wilbekin has had multiple off-court issues during his time in Gainesville, but he seems to have turned his life around as a senior, something that has benefited a Gators team with an excellent shot of making the Final Four.

Honorable Mention: All-Americans

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    Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

    F Cleanthony Early, Wichita State, senior

    F Rodney Hood, Duke, sophomore

    F Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin, junior

    F Julius Randle, Kentucky, freshman

    F T.J. Warren, North Carolina State, sophomore

    G Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia, sophomore

    G Roy Devyn Marble, Iowa, senior

    G Gary Harris, Michigan State, sophomore

    G Tyler Haws, BYU, junior

    G Xavier Thames, San Diego State, senior

Player of the Year: Doug McDermott, Creighton

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    Dave Weaver-USA TODAY Sports

    The race for National Player of the Year is not even a race. If it were, Doug McDermott would have lapped the field by now.

    McDermott has put together a historic career and the finale just keeps getting better. On Saturday night, he scored a career-high 45 points and became the eighth player in NCAA history to reach 3,000 points. He's one of three players to ever score 3,000 and grab 1,000 rebounds.

    Considering how basketball has changed with most great players never making it past their sophomore seasons, he could be the last to reach these landmarks.

    All that's left now is to see how far McDermott can take the Bluejays in the NCAA tourney and how high he'll end up on the all-time scoring list—he's currently sixth and 238 points behind second place. If Creighton could somehow get to the Big East final and the national championship game and McDermott kept his season average (26.5) the rest of the way, he'd end up as the second-leading scorer in NCAA history.

Coach of the Year: Gregg Marshall, Wichita State

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    Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

    How could anyone win this award other than Gregg Marshall, whose squad accomplished something that hasn’t been done in 23 years? At 34-0, Marshall’s Shockers will be first team to enter the NCAA tournament without a loss since UNLV in 1990-91.

    Wichita State is also the first team to finish the regular season unbeaten since St. Joseph’s in 2003-04. That unit, however, lost in the first round of its conference tournament, whereas Wichita State won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament for the first time since 1987.

    This isn’t the first time Marshall has made a name for himself on a national stage. It was only a year ago when the Shockers stunned the college basketball world by defeating schools such as Pittsburgh, Gonzaga and Ohio State en route to the Final Four. Wichita State lost 72-68 to eventual NCAA champion Louisville, but Marshall’s team definitely showed it belonged.

    This Wichita State team is better last year’s group, but even if the Shockers don’t reach the Final Four, Marshall’s excellence is undeniable. He was at the top of his profession in 2013-14.

Freshman of the Year: Jabari Parker, Duke

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    Gerry Broome/Associated Press

    Unlike most of the highly-touted freshmen in the Class of 2013, Parker lived up to the hype from the beginning of the regular season until the end. While some first-year players struggled with consistency issues, Parker played at a high level for the entire season.

    Parker, who averages team highs in points (19.2) and rebounds (9.0), is projected as a top-three pick in this summer’s NBA draft. He told reporters last week that he hadn’t made up his mind about returning to school, but at this point it’s difficult to imagine him doing anything other than turning pro.

Transfer of the Year: DeAndre Kane, Iowa State

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    David Purdy/Getty Images

    It’s tough to imagine where the Cyclones would be without Kane, who starred at Marshall for three seasons before sparking Iowa State to a 23-7 record. With Kane leading the way, the Cyclones won their first 14 games before tying Texas for third in the Big 12 standings with an 11-7 record.

    Kane will enter the postseason averaging a career-high 17.1 points while shooting 49.3 percent from the field. He has 2,008 points in his career, but Kane’s biggest attribute is his versatility, as he also contributes 5.9 assists and 6.7 rebounds, a phenomenal number for a point guard.

    Kane’s best game came in a Jan. 7 victory over Baylor, when he flirted with a triple-double by tallying 30 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Craft, Ohio State

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    Nati Harnik/Associated Press

    With a 23-8 record, Ohio State has been a bit of a disappointment. And Aaron Craft has regressed a tad offensively. He’s averaging 9.4 points per contest after scoring 10 points a game as a junior, and his 4.5 assist-per-game average is lower than his sophomore- and junior-year mark.

    On the other end of the court, though, the narrative is the same.

    No guard in America is as good defensively as Craft, the Big Ten's all-time leader in steals. The senior is averaging a career-high 2.5 steals per game and continues to shut down marquee players on opposing teams. He had six steals against Iowa and seven against American. On nine occasions, Craft had four or more steals in a game. He’s as pesky as they come.

Sixth Man of the Year: Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida

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    Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

    Dorian Finney-Smith is one of the most difficult match-ups in the country. At 6’8”, the sophomore transfer from Virginia Tech has the size and aggression to mix it up in the paint, where he averages a team-high 6.9 rebounds.

    But Finney-Smith is also versatile enough to do damage from the outside, where he’s made 34 three-pointers en route to a scoring average of 9.4 points per game. Finney-Smith might be the X-factor that gets Florida over the hump after three straight losses in the Elite Eight.

Most Improved Player: Cameron Ridley, Texas

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    The 6’9”, 285-pound Cameron Ridley deserves major kudos for getting in better shape and becoming one of the top post players in the nation’s toughest league.

    A sophomore, Ridley is averaging 11.5 points and 8.1 rebounds. Those numbers are up significantly from the ones he posted last season (4.1 and 4.3, respectively). Ridley also averages 2.2 blocks per contest and shoots 54.5 percent from the field.

    He had 20 points and 10 boards in a Feb. 26 win over Baylor before erupting for 19 and 14 a few nights later against Oklahoma.

    Ridley’s strides are partly due to his improved conditioning, a tribute to both his work ethic and the Texas strength staff. Ridley averaged just 16 minutes per game as a freshman but is seeing 25 minutes of action each game this season.

Most Underrated: Terran Petteway, Nebraska

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    Eric Francis/Getty Images

    Terran Petteway may enter 2014-15 as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. The sophomore is averaging 17.8 points and 4.7 rebounds for a Nebraska squad that rose from obscurity to work its way onto the NCAA tournament bubble.

    Petteway scored in double figures in all but two games and eclipsed the 20-point barrier on 11 occasions. NBA scouts love the skill set of the 6'6" guard from Galveston, Tex.

    As much as he's recognized in Lincoln for leading Nebraska to a 19-11 record (including an 11-7 mark in the Big Ten) he flew largely under the radar nationally. That won't be the case next season. Petteway is too good to ignore.

All-American Athletic Conference

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    First team

    F Montrezl Harrell, Louisville, sophomore - The potential first-round draft pick is averaging 14 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds in his first season as a starter. He had 25 points and 12 boards March 1 against Memphis.

    G Joe Jackson, Memphis, senior - Jackson capped off his final regular season with the Tigers by averaging a career-high 14.4 points along with 4.6 assists. He’ll enter the ACC Tournament boasting 1,655 career points.

    G Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati, senior - The Bearcats won a share of a conference title for the first time since 2004 thanks to Kilpatrick, who averages 20.9 points. Kilpatrick eclipsed the 20-point barrier 18 times during the regular season.

    G Shabazz Napier, Connecticut, senior - Napier, who won an NCAA title ring as a freshman, clearly saved his best for last. He’ll enter this week’s AAC Tournament averaging career-highs in points (17.8) and rebounds (6.0) along with 5.2 assists.

    G Russ Smith, Louisville, senior - With Smith in the backcourt, the Cardinals have a shot to appear in their third straight Final Four. Smith averages 17.5 points and 4.8 assists. Much to the delight of Rick Pitino, he’s shooting career-best 46.8 percent from the field.

    Second team

    F Shaq Goodwin, Memphis, sophomore  

    F Justin Jackson, Cincinnati, senior

    F Markus Kennedy, SMU, sophomore

    F TaShawn Thomas, Houston, junior

    G Nic Moore, SMU, sophomore

    Third team

    F Danuel House, Houston, sophomore

    F Isaiah Sykes, Central Florida, senior

    G Ryan Boatright, Connecticut, junior

    G Myles Mack, Rutgers, junior

    G Dalton Pepper, Temple, senior

    Player of the Year: Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati

    Coach of the Year: Larry Brown, SMU

    Freshman of the Year: Terry Rozier, Louisville

    Transfer of the Year: Nic Moore, SMU

    Defensive Player of the Year: Justin Jackson, Cincinnati

    Sixth Man of the Year: Michael Dixon, Memphis

    Most Improved: Jherrod Stiggers, Houston

    Most Underrated: Geron Johnson, Memphis

All-ACC

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    Gerry Broome/Associated Press

    First team

    F Jabari Parker, Duke, freshman - Parker has been a force anywhere Coach K has put him in Duke's offense. He's been the most consistent freshman in the country, scoring 20-plus in 16 of 31 games. He averages 19.2 points and nine rebounds.

    G Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia, sophomore - After sitting out last season with a foot injury, Brogdon surprisingly emerged as Virginia's leading scorer at 12.6 points per game. He has also been a key cog in Tony Bennett's dominant pack-line defense.

    G Tyler Ennis, Syracuse, freshman - No moment is too big for Ennis, who hit the shot of the ACC season at Pitt. He's been the Orange's steadiest player and rarely makes a mistake, having turned the ball over more than two times in only four games. 

    F T.J. Warren, North Carolina State, sophomore - A case could be made for Warren as ACC Player of the Year. He's scored 30-plus nine times and carried the inexperienced Wolfpack to a .500 record in the ACC. He's averaging 24.2 points on the season and 34 points in his last five games.

    G Marcus Paige, North Carolina, sophomore - Without P.J. Hairston, Paige had to play both guard spots and wore a lot of hats for the Tar Heels. He's been a much better scorer this season (17.1 points per game) than anyone expected.

    Second team

    F Rodney Hood, Duke, sophomore

    F C.J. Fair, Syracuse, senior

    G Lamar Patterson, Pittsburgh, senior

    F K.J. McDaniels, Clemson, junior

    G Joe Harris, Virginia, senior

    Third team

    F Jerami Grant, Syracuse, sophomore

    F Akil Mitchell, Virginia, senior

    G Aaron Thomas, Florida State, sophomore

    G Dez Wells, Maryland, junior

    F James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina, junior

    Player of the Year: Jabari Parker, Duke

    Coach of the Year: Tony Bennett, Virginia

    Freshman of the Year: Jabari Parker, Duke

    Transfer of the Year: Rodney Hood, Duke

    Defensive Player of the Year: Akil Mitchell, Virginia

    Sixth Man of the Year: Justin Anderson, Virginia

    Most Improved: Brice Johnson, North Carolina

    Most Underrated: K.J. McDaniels, Clemson

All-Big East

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    Michael Perez/Associated Press

    First team 

    F Doug McDermott, Creighton, senior - The leading candidate for the Wooden Award and Naismith Award leads the nation in scoring with 26.5 points per game and is sure to earn first-team All-American honors for the third straight season. McDermott heads into the Big East tournament with 3,011 career points, which ranks seventh in college basketball history. And he’s not finished yet.

    F JayVaughn Pinkston, Villanova, junior - The Wildcats’ most physical player in the paint averages a team-high 6.1 rebounds and ranks second on the squad in points with 14.3 per game. Pinkston is one of the main reasons Villanova has won a school-record 28 games and counting.

    F James Bell, Villanova, senior - One of the country’s most-improved players, Bell increased his scoring average from 8.6 points as a junior to team-best 14.9 points as a senior. He’s also averaging a career-high 6.0 rebounds for the outright Big East champions.

    G Semaj Christon, Xavier, sophomore - The Musketeers are a likely NCAA tournament team thanks to Christon, who averages 17 points per game while shooting 48.3 percent from the field. He also dishes out 4.1 assists per contest. The 6’3” Christon is regarded as a potential first-round pick in the NBA draft.

    G Bryce Cotton, Providence, senior - One of the nation’s most underrated players, Cotton is tied for ninth in the nation in scoring with 21.7 points per game. He shoots a respectable 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and also averages a team-high 5.9 assists. Cotton averaged 19.7 points as a junior.

    Second team

    F Davante Gardner, Marquette, senior 

    G Fuquan Edwin, Seton Hall, senior

    G D’Angelo Harrison, St. John’s, junior

    G Darrun Hilliard II, Villanova, junior

    G Markel Starks, Georgetown, senior 

    Third team

    F LaDontae Henton, Providence, junior

    F Jakarr Sampson, St. John’s, sophomore

    F Ethan Wragge, Creighton, senior

    G Kellen Dunham, Butler, sophomore

    G D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown, sophomore

    Player of the Year: Doug McDermott, Creighton

    Coach of the Year: Jay Wright, Villanova

    Freshman of the Year: Rysheed Jordan, St. John’s

    Transfer of the Year: Sterling Gibbs, Seton Hall

    Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Obepka, St. John’s

    Sixth Man of the Year: Todd Mayo, Marquette

    Most Improved: James Bell, Villanova

    Most Underrated: Grant Gibbs, Creighton

All-Big Ten

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    Tony Ding/Associated Press

    First team

    G Nik Stauskas, Michigan, sophomore - Without Trey Burke around, Stauskas took over as the No. 1 playmaker and thrived, averaging 17.4 points and 3.4 assists. He also has done what Burke could not do: lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten title.

    F Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin, junior - Kaminsky is the Big Ten's most improved player. The 43-point man can score inside and out, shooting 40.8 percent from deep.

    G Roy Devyn Marble, Iowa, senior - The Hawkeyes have struggled down the stretch—losing five of six—but it hasn't been because of Marble's offense. He's averaged 19.9 points over the last eight games.

    G Gary Harris, Michigan State, sophomore - Harris added a slashing game to his smooth perimeter jumper this year. He leads the Spartans in points with 17.7 per game and helped carry the team during a season filled with injuries.

    G Terran Petteway, Nebraska, sophomore - In his first season since transferring from Texas Tech, Petteway is averaging 17.8 points for a squad that is 19-11 and likely headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998.

    Second team

    C Adreian Payne, Michigan State, senior

    G Caris LeVert, Michigan, sophomore

    F Sam Dekker, Wisconsin, sophomore

    F LaQuinton Ross, Ohio State, junior

    G Yogi Ferrell, Indiana, sophomore

    Third team

    F Aaron White, Iowa, junior

    G Aaron Craft, Ohio State, senior

    G Andre Hollins, Minnesota, junior

    G Keith Appling, Michigan State, senior

    F Glenn Robinson III, Michigan, sophomore

    Player of the Year: Nik Stauskas, Michigan

    Coach of the Year: Tim Miles, Nebraska

    Freshman of the Year: Noah Vonleh, Indiana

    Transfer of the Year: Terran Petteway, Nebraska

    Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Craft, Ohio State

    Sixth Man of the Year: Kendrick Nunn, Illinois  

    Most Improved: Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin

    Most Underrated: Denzel Valentine, Michigan State

All-Big 12

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    Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

    First team

    F Melvin Ejim, Iowa State, senior - The Toronto native increased his scoring average from 11.3 points as a junior to 18.2 points this season. He also averages a team-best 8.6 rebounds. Ejim scored a Big 12-record 48 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a Feb. 8 win over TCU. And he had 30 points and 16 boards March 1 against Kansas State.

    G Buddy Hield, Oklahoma, sophomore - The Sooners’ second-place finish in the league standings was one of the biggest surprises of the Big 12 season. It never would’ve occurred without Hield, who is averaging a team-high 16.8 points per game. Hield scored in double figures in all but one Big 12 game.

    G DeAndre Kane, Iowa State, senior - No Big 12 player impacts a game in as many ways as Kane, a Marshall transfer who sparked the Cyclones to a 14-0 start. The 6’4” Kane averages 17.1 points. 6.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists. Kane, who shoots 49.3 percent from the field, has tallied 2,008 points in his career and has never averaged below 15.1 points.

    G Juwan Staten, West Virginia, junior - A point guard, Staten leads the Mountaineers in scoring with 18.4 points per game and ranks second on the squad in rebounds with 5.9. Not bad for a 6’1” point guard. Staten is efficient, shooting 49.2 percent from the field for a team that will likely miss the NCAA tournament. His numbers are worthy of league MVP honors.

    G Andrew Wiggins, Kansas, freshman - Averaging 16.8 points and 5.9 rebounds as a freshman is almost unheard of, but for the most-hyped player in recent memory, it was basically expected. Wiggins' stats would've been much higher had he not been surrounded by such talented teammates. His 41-point effort in Saturday's loss at West Virginia was one of the more impressive performances by any player this season.

    Second team

    F Cory Jefferson, Baylor, senior

    C Joel Embiid, Kansas, freshman

    G Markel Brown, Oklahoma State, senior

    G Marcus Foster, Kansas State, freshman

    G Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, sophomore

    Third team

    F Perry Ellis, Kansas, sophomore

    F Jonathan Holmes, Texas, junior

    G Kenny Chery, Baylor, junior

    G Cameron Clark, Oklahoma, senior

    G Eron Harris, West Virginia, sophomore

    Player of the Year: Andrew Wiggins, Kansas

    Coach of the Year: Bill Self, Kansas

    Freshman of the Year: Andrew Wiggins, Kansas

    Transfer of the Year: DeAndre Kane, Iowa State

    Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State

    Sixth Man of the Year: Phil Forte, Oklahoma State

    Most Improved: Cameron Ridley, Texas

    Most Underrated: Jaye Crockett, Texas Tech

All-Pac-12

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    First team

    G Nick Johnson, Arizona, junior - Once known as just a great athlete, Johnson has become a complete player. He's one of the best perimeter defenders in the country and leads the Wildcats in scoring at 16.1 points per game.

    F Aaron Gordon, Arizona, freshman - Gordon's impact has gone beyond his numbers. His length and ability to guard multiple positions turned Arizona's defense into the best in the country.

    G Kyle Anderson, UCLA, sophomore - He's the closest thing the college game has to Oscar Robertson. He led the Pac-12 in assists (6.6 per game), was fourth in rebounds (8.7) and 13th in points (14.9).

    G Jahii Carson, Arizona State, sophomore - The Sun Devils are likely headed to their first NCAA tourney since James Harden's sophomore year in 2008-09. Carson is the best player to come through Tempe since Harden. 

    G Joseph Young, Oregon, junior - Young is one of the most efficient jump-shooters in the country and does much of his work from the perimeter. He's averaging 18.2 points per game and shooting 40.6 percent from deep.

    Second team

    G Roberto Nelson, Oregon State, senior

    G Jordan Adams, UCLA, sophomore

    C Jordan Bachynski, Arizona State, senior

    G Delon Wright, Utah, junior

    G Justin Cobbs, California, senior

    Third team

    G T.J. McConnell, Arizona, junior

    F Dwight Powell, Stanford, senior

    G Chasson Randle, Stanford, junior

    F Josh Scott, Colorado, sophomore

    G C.J. Wilcox, Washington, senior

    Player of the Year: Nick Johnson, Arizona

    Coach of the Year: Sean Miller, Arizona

    Freshman of the Year: Aaron Gordon, Arizona

    Transfer of the Year: Joseph Young, Oregon

    Defensive Player of the Year: Jordan Bachynski, Arizona State

    Sixth Man of the Year: Jason Calliste, Oregon

    Most Improved: Gabe York, Arizona

    Most Underrated: Josh Scott, Colorado

All-SEC

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    Phil Sandlin/Associated Press

    First team

    F Casey Prather, Florida, senior - Not many players in the country made strides as big as Prather, who went from averaging 6.2 points as a junior to a team-high 14.6 points as a senior. He also contributes 5.2 rebounds to a squad that went undefeated in the SEC. He averaged 18 points in non-conference games against Kansas, Florida State, Memphis and Connecticut.

    F Julius Randle, Kentucky, freshman - Even during a season when he didn’t come close to reaching his ceiling, the future NBA lottery pick was highly productive. Randle averaged 15.4 points and 10.5 rebounds during the regular season. He had 18 double-doubles.

    G Jabari Brown, Missouri, junior - Missouri’s second-half slide overshadowed a brilliant regular season by Brown, a three-point specialist who averages 19.7 points while shooting 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. During one seven-game stretch, Brown when 26-of-42 (62 percent) from three-point range.

    G Trevor Releford, Alabama, senior - The standout point guard’s senior season has clearly been his best. Releford averages 18.8 points, 3.1 assists and 2.2 steals for the underachieving Crimson Tide. He’s also shooting a career-high 50.3 percent from the field. The Kansas City native will enter the SEC Tournament with 1,838 career points.

    G Scottie Wilbekin, Florida, senior - The catalyst for the No. 1-ranked team in America, Wilbekin showed resiliency after an offseason suspension by averaging 12.9 points and 3.9 assists. Wilbekin, who also averages 1.5 steals, is at his best in close games. He’s the main reason Florida hasn’t lost since Dec. 2.

    Second team

    F Johnny O’Bryant, LSU, junior

    F Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee, junior

    F Patric Young, Florida, senior

    G Jordan Clarkson, Missouri, junior

    G Jordan McRae, Tennessee, senior

    Third team

    F Jordan Mickey, LSU, freshman

    G Chris Denson, Auburn, senior

    G Michael Frazier, Florida, sophomore

    G Jarvis Summers, Ole Miss, junior

    G James Young, Kentucky, freshman

    Player of the Year: Scottie Wilbekin, Florida

    Coach of the Year: Billy Donovan, Florida

    Freshman of the Year: Julius Randle, Kentucky

    Transfer of the Year: Jordan Clarkson, Missouri

    Defensive Player of the Year: Jordan Mickey, LSU

    Sixth Man of the Year: Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida

    Most Improved Player: Rashad Madden, Arkansas

    Most Underrated: Kenny Gaines, Georgia

All-Atlantic 10

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    Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

    First team

    F Dwayne Evans, Saint Louis, senior - The Atlantic 10 will be happy to see Evans graduate. With the ability to score off the bounce or from the post, he's been one of the toughest matchups in the league for years.

    G Jordair Jett, Saint Louis, senior - Jett has always been a great defender. This year he took on more responsibility as a scorer, averaging 13.7 points per game.

    G Treveon Graham, VCU, junior - All Shaka Smart has to do is give Graham the ball and let him go to work. Graham is one of the best one-on-one scorers in the A-10 and he routinely shuts down his man on the defensive end.

    G Chaz Williams, UMass, senior - Williams is a nightmare in space. He get can his own (15.7 points per game) or set up his teammates (7.1 assists per game). 

    F Juvonte Reddic, VCU, senior - Reddic is a beast in the paint on both ends. He's scoring has gone down this year but he still has been an elite rebounder, ranking third in the A-10.

    Second team

    F Devin Oliver, Dayton, senior

    G Langston Galloway, Saint Joseph's, senior

    G Maurice Creek, George Washington, senior

    F Ronald Roberts Jr., Saint Joseph's, senior

    C Cady Lalanne, UMass, junior

    Third team

    G Tyreek Duren, La Salle, senior

    G Cedrick Lindsay, Richmond, senior

    G Briante Weber, VCU, junior

    G Matthew Wright, St. Bonaventure, senior

    G Jordan Sibert, Dayton, junior

    Player of the Year: Jordair Jett, Saint Louis

    Coach of the Year: Phil Martelli, Saint Joseph's

    Freshman of the Year: Jon Severe, Fordham

    Transfer of the Year: Maurice Creek, George Washington

    Defensive Player of the Year: Jordair Jett, Saint Louis

    Sixth Man of the Year: Melvin Johnson, VCU

    Most Improved: Halil Kanacevic, Saint Joseph's

    Most Underrated: Devin Oliver, Dayton

All-Mountain West

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    Isaac Brekken/Associated Press

    First team

    F Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico, senior - The 6’9”, 250-pound forward went from averaging 9.7 points as a junior to 20.3 as a senior. He’s also snaring a career-high 7.2 rebounds per contest for the Lobos, who finished second behind San Diego State in the Mountain West.

    F Khem Birch, UNLV, junior - Birch has blossomed into one of the country's top big men since transferring from Pittsburgh two years ago. He averaged a double-double (11.8 points, 10.1 rebounds) in the regular season. He ranks second in nation in blocks with 3.8 per game.

    F Larry Nance Jr., Wyoming, junior - The 6’8” Nance was one of more underrated players in the country before a knee injury Feb. 18 sidelined him for the rest of the season. Nance Jr. averaged 15.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He was one of the league’s top defensive players.

    G Deonte Burton, Nevada, senior - The Wolfpack’s struggles have caused yet another banner season by Burton to go unnoticed. The NBA prospect is averaging career-highs in points (20) and assists (4.5). He’s shooting 47.4 percent from the field. Burton has reached double figures in all but one game.

    G Xavier Thames, San Diego State, senior - The Aztecs' point guard is one of the best players in America at his position. He’s averaging 16.9 points and 3.0 assists for a squad that went on a 20-game winning streak earlier this season. The NBA prospect had a season-high 29 points in a win over Marquette and was named MVP of the Wooden Legacy tournament.

    Second team

    F Anthony Drmic, Boise State, junior

    F Alex Kirk, New Mexico, junior

    F Winston Shepard, San Diego State, sophomore

    F Kendall Williams, New Mexico, senior

    G Daniel Bejarano, Colorado State, junior

    Third team

    F J.J. Avila, Colorado State, junior

    F Roscoe Smith, UNLV, junior

    F Ryan Watkins, Boise State, senior

    G Tyler Johnson, Fresno State, senior

    G Derrick Marks, Boise State, junior

      

    Player of the Year: Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico

    Coach of the Year: Steve Fisher, San Diego State

    Freshman of the Year: Paul Watson, Fresno State

    Transfer of the Year: J.J. Avila, Colorado State

    Defensive Player of the Year: Khem Birch, UNLV

    Sixth Man of the Year: Cullen Neal, New Mexico

    Most Improved Player: Daniel Bejarano, Colorado State

    Most Underrated: Josh Davis, San Diego State

All-Mid-Major

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    Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

    First team

    G Fred VanVleet, Wichita State, sophomore - VanVleet's numbers don't jump off the page, but he rarely makes a mistake and has a great sense for the moment. Take Sunday's Missouri Valley championship game, for instance, when he stepped up to score 20 second-half points to keep the undefeated season alive. 

    G Tyler Haws, BYU, junior - Haws is one of the craftiest scorers in college basketball and one of the few guys in today's game who thrives in the mid-range. He ranks sixth in the NCAA in scoring at 23.3 points per game.

    G Keifer Sykes, Green Bay, junior - Green Bay might be the most talented mid-major team outside of Wichita State and Sykes is a big reason why. The speedster guard is great at getting to the rim and finishing. 

    C Alan Williams, UC Santa Barbara, junior - The big fella is a double-double machine. He ranks second in the NCAA in rebounding (11.6 per game) and in the top 15 in scoring (21.6). 

    F Cleanthony Early, Wichita State, senior - Early can score against anyone, as he proved in the NCAA tournament last year. He leads the Shockers in scoring at 16 points per game.

    Second team

    F Jerrelle Benimon, Towson, senior

    G Taylor Braun, North Dakota State, senior

    F Javon McCrea, Buffalo, senior

    G Billy Baron, Canisius, senior

    G J.J. Mann, Belmont, senior

    Third team

    F Jacob Parker, Stephen F. Austin, junior

    G Jeremy Ingram, North Carolina Central, senior

    F De'Mon Brooks, Davidson, senior

    G Ron Baker, Wichita State, sophomore

    G D.J. Balentine, Evansville, sophomore

    Player of the Year: Fred VanVleet, Wichita State

    Coach of the Year: Gregg Marshall, Wichita State

    Freshman of the Year: Eric Mika, BYU

    Transfer of the Year: Trey Lewis, Cleveland State

    Defensive Player of the Year: Tekele Cotton, Wichita State

    Sixth Man of the Year: Brandyn Curry, Harvard

    Most Improved: Sam Dower, Gonzaga

    Most Underrated: De'Mon Brooks, Davidson

    Jason King and C.J. Moore cover college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow them on Twitter @JasonKingBR and @CJMooreBR

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