2011-12 College Basketball: Preseason Player of the Year in Every D1 Conference

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The 2011-12 College Basketball season doesn't officially start for four-plus months.

Over this time, players will elevate their individual games through putting in hours in the gym and in the weight room.

While coaches are limited to what they can do to lead workouts, that doesn't mean that the 346 Division I coaches won't lay out a very detailed offseason plan for their players and for their teams.

Each conference has a "best player" heading into next season...a Preseason Player of the Year.

Most of the time, it is a returning player. In some uncommon cases, it could be a college transfer or even an incoming high school player.

The following is a list of the top player in each of the 31 Division I conferences for the 2011-12 season.    

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

2011-12: Senior

5'10"  170 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

15.5 ppg

3.9 rpg

6.0 apg

Even though UMBC struggled through a 5-25 season (4-12 AEC), the Retrievers will look forward to what senior point guard Chris De La Rosa will do next season.

De La Rosa (second team all conference selection) was the assists leader and was the No. 3  scorer in the America East.

The following is an interview with and game footage of Chris De La Rosa

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Xavier

2011-12: Senior

6'0" 185 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

19.7 ppg

5.0 rpg

5.4 apg

Tu Holloway made a lot of people in the Musketeer Basketball world happy when he announced that he was returning for his senior year at Xavier.

Holloway, selected as a 2010-11 Third Team All-American by The Associated Press and the A-10's Player of the Year, will be one of the top guards in nation.

He is the real deal, an excellent combination of scorer and playmaker who is willing to go to the boards.

Xavier has been 77-25 during Holloway's three years in the program.

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

North Carolina

2011-12: Sophomore

6'8" 210 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

15.7 ppg

5.8 rpg

1.4 apg

Before he ever played a game in Chapel Hill, Harrison Barnes was selected as a preseason All-American, and the expectations among the Tar Heel faithful went through the roof.

After a sluggish start, Harrison Barnes became one of the big reasons why North Carolina made it to the Elite Eight of last year's NCAA Tournament.

With Barnes, and his fellow frontline friends (John Henson and Tyler Zeller) withdrawing from the NBA Draft, UNC looks to be one of the favorites to make it to the 2012 Final Four. 

Here are highlights from Harrison Barnes' 40-point freshman year outburst against Clemson

Kennesaw State

2011-12: Junior

6'7"  230 lbs

2010-11 Stats:

Pts: 18.3 ppg

Reb: 5.0 rpg

Markeith Cummings returns to Kennesaw State as the Atlantic Sun's leading scorer.

At the conclusion of the 2010-11 season, Cummings was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference Second Team for the second straight year.

Here's a look at Markeith Cummings as he won the Atlantic Sun's Player of the Week - Feb 8

Baylor

2011-12: Sophomore

6'11" 235 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

13.9 ppg

7.2 rpg

1.2 apg

Perry Jones III will not only be the top player in the Big 12 in '11-12, but he will be one of the leading players in college basketball.

For his size, Jones has an exceptionally versatile skill set, able to operate down low or step out and hit jumpers.

While Baylor had a disappointing season last year, watch for Scott Drew and his bears to be a Top 25 team or better as things get rolling in this coming October.

Take a look at PJ3 doin' his thang!

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

UConn

2011-12: Sophomore

6'5" 185 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

11.1 ppg

4.5 rpg

1.6 apg

While Jeremy Lamb had a good freshman year at UConn, he had an exceptional NCAA Tournament (16.2 ppg; 58 percent from the floor; 63 percent from beyond the arc).

While Huskies will definitely miss Kemba Walker, they have definitely found someone who can step into the role as their go-to scorer in Lamb.

Check out Jeremy Lamb as he bursts onto the national scene

Virginia Military

2011-12: Junior

6'5" 195 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

16.8 ppg

8 rpg

1.7 apg

Stan Okoye may only be 6'5", but he plays bigger.

Okoye rung up 11 games of 20 points or more in 2010-11, putting up nine double-doubles this past season.

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Montana

2011-12: Junior

6'1" 177 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

14.1 ppg

3.6 rpg

4.3 apg

The Grizzlies are going to really rely on this versatile backcourt leader.

Cherry can do it all and will have a break-out season as a junior.

Sit down and see Will Cherry in action!

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Ohio State

2011-12: Sophomore

6'9" 280 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

17.2 ppg

10.2 rpg

1.2 apg

Jared Sullinger was not only one of the best freshman in the nation in 2010-11...he was one of the best players overall.

His decision to come back surprised many, because he was projected to be the top pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Ohio State will challenge for the NCAA Championship with Sullinger taking over the middle.

Jared Sullinger = Domination!

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

UC-Santa Barbara

2011-12: Senior

6'5" 205 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

21.1 ppg

6.2 rpg

2.9 apg

It was a huge boost to UCSB basketball when Orlando Johnson decided to return to campus for his senior year.

Johnson has been a two-time Big West scoring champion, and the Gauchos have been to the NCAA Tournament the last two years.

Johnson was the Big West Player of the Year in 2010.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Virginia Commonwealth

2011-12: Senior

6'6" 225 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

14.3 ppg

6.3 rpg

1.7 apg

While everyone in the college basketball world learned about VCU and Shaka Smart this past March, Bradford Burgess broke onto the national scene as the Rams made their unbelievable run during the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Burgess is an outstanding scorer with a very nice touch from beyond the arc (43 percent).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jKcBXyPIHg

Alabama-Birmingham

2011-12: Senior

6'10" 230 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

14 ppg

9.3 rpg

0.9 apg

Cameron Moore will be one of the top Big Men in the country next year.

Moore showed everyone that he could be a force to reckon with, putting up 13 double-doubles in 2010-11.  

North Dakota

2011-12: Sophomore

6'4" 170 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

13.3 ppg

4.6 rpg

1.1 apg

Troy Huff is already considered one of the best players in Fighting Sioux history and he's just getting started.

The long, skilled combo guard finished up his freshman year by scoring in double figures in 16 of his last 18 games.

Detroit

2011-12: Senior

6'10" 255 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

11.8 ppg

9.6 rpg

0.8 apg

The Titans are looking for big things from their big man, Eli Holman.

As a junior, Holman led the league in rebounding, and rang up 13 double-doubles.

Yale

2011-12: Senior

6'10" 240 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

16.3 ppg

10 rpg

0.5 apg

To say that Greg Mangano had a great junior year would be an understatement.

He led the Ivies in rebounding and blocked shots and was second in scoring.

Mangano has been invited to participate in the Team USA open tryouts over the summer.

Manhattan

2011-12: Junior

6'4" 170 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

16.3 ppg

6.1 rpg

1.3 apg

George Beamon is the top returning scorer in the MAAC.

He went for at least double-figures in all but three games for the Jaspers in 2010-11.

Kent State

2011-12: Senior

6'8" 230 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

15.6 ppg

8.4 rpg

1.5 bpg

Justin Greene was the MAC Player of the Year for the 2010-11 season. 

He was the only player in the MAC to rank in the top 10 in points, rebounds and blocked shots.

He also posted 11 double-doubles on the season.

Norfolk State

2011-12: Senior

6'10" 240 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

16.4 ppg

11.1 rpg

3.4 bpg

Kyle O'Quinn had a breakout year in 2010-11.

The 6-10 post player ended the season ranked fourth in the nation in blocked shots (3.4), fifth in rebounding (11.1) and eight in double-doubles (19).

O'Quinn was the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2010-11.

Missouri State

2011-12: Senior

6'6" 232 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

16 ppg

6.9 rpg

1.4 apg

Kyle Weems was the 2010-11 MVC Player of the Year.

Weems, also an All-MVC first-team selection this year, ranks among the Valley’s top 10 players in 11 of 13 statistical categories, including second in scoring and third in rebounding.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

New Mexico

2011-12: Senior

6'9" 245 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

13 ppg

10.5 rpg

1.3 bpg

Drew Gordon made an immediate impact on both the Lobos line-up and the Mountain West.

Though the UCLA-transfer had to sit out the first semester, Gordon still put up 12 double-doubles in 2010-11. 

Central Connecticut State

2011-12: Senior

6'6" 195 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

19.5 ppg

8.9 rpg

1.6 bpg

Ken Horton looks to have a monster senior season.

As a junior, Horton lead the conference in scoring and blocks, and was second in rebounding.

Austin Peay

2011-12: Senior

6'3" 175 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

17.1 ppg

4.5 rpg

2 apg

TyShwan Edmondson has made an impact since transferring from St. John's.

He was the OVC's second leading scorer this past season, and looks to have an explosive 2011-12 season.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

California

2011-12: Senior

6'3" 195 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

14.6 ppg

3.8 rpg

4.5 apg

In a "normal" Pac-12 season, Jorge Gutierrez might be considered a solid returning senior. But because of the massive departures within the conference, Gutierrez vaults up to the top spot in the conference that welcomes Utah and Colorado in for the first time.

Gutierrez is the scoring and assists leader from the 2010-11 Bears team that looks to be the favorite to win the conference title.

Lehigh

2011-12: Junior

6'3" 165 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

21.8 ppg

7.8 rpg

2.1 apg

As a freshman, C.J. McCollum became the first player in Patriot League history to be named the league's Player and Rookie of the Year.

As a sophomore, he elevated his game further, increasing his scoring and rebounding even further.

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Vanderbilt

2011-12: Junior

6'4" 215 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

19.5 ppg

3 rpg

1.2 apg

John Jenkins was the 2010-11 SEC leading scorer. Jenkins made 100 shots from beyond the arc last season.

Along with a strong supporting cast, the Commodores may be ready to challenge for the conference title.

Appalachian State

2011-12: Senior

6'5" 220 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

16.3 ppg

5.8 rpg

1.3 apg

Omar Carter has been a nice addition to the ASU program.

After playing two years at Charleston Southern, Carter has helped the Mountaineers with his strong inside/outside game.

Watch Omar Carter as a freshman

McNeese State

2011-12: Senior

6'4" 208 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

16.1 ppg

6.4 rpg

2.5 apg

Patrick Richard was the leader of the Cowboy squad that won the school's twelfth conference championship and sixth Southland Conference title.

He was a first team all-conference and all-Louisiana pick along with being named to the NABC all-district squad.

Alcorn State

2011-12: Senior

6'2" 195 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

15.9 ppg

3.4 rpg

1.1 apg

Marquis Baker is an outstanding scorer who went for at least 20 points in nine different games.

Baker hit his career-high (32 points) against Big-12 opponent Nebraska.

South Alabama

2011-12: Sophomore

6'6" 222 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

13.1 ppg

11 rpg

1.1 bpg

Under-sized for a center, Augustine Rubit is still one of the most dominating players in the conference.

Rubit led the conference in rebounding, and averaged a double-double in his first season for the Jaguars. 

IUPUI

2011-12: Senior

6'6" 200 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

19.7 ppg

6.4 rpg

2.4 apg

Alex Young led the conference in scoring and tied for third in steals with 45.

Young was the only player in The Summit League to rank among the top 15 in scoring, rebounding and assists in 2010-11.

Young has been selected two straight years as an All-Summit League selection.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Santa Clara

2011-12: Junior

6'2" 220 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

20.2 ppg

2.7 rpg

3.7 apg

Kevin Foster led the WCC in scoring.

Foster hit for at least double-figures in all but two of the Broncos 2010-11 games.

Foster helped Santa Clara defeat Iona for the CollegeInsider.com tourney final, the Broncos first-ever postseason, non-conference tournament championship.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Nevada

2011-12: Senior

6'8" 230 lbs.

2010-11 Stats:

12.4 ppg

9.7 rpg

1.7 bpg

Dario Hunt led the 2010-11 WAC in rebounds and blocked shots per game.

Hunt had 14 games where he had at least 10 rebounds.

As an All-WAC Defensive Team selection, Hunt will be counted on again to be a force in the middle next season.