Garza, Butler leads AP All-America preseason squad

The coronavirus pandemic initially clouded Luka Garza’s decision to stay in Iowa or leave for the NBA. The uncertainty of the 2020-21 college basketball season and the NBA Draft made a tough choice even more difficult.

Once Garza decided to stay in Iowa City, he was into it. No doubt about the future.

Garza was recognized on Wednesday as the only unanimous selection for the Associated Press’s All-America preseason squad, one of many awards the talented big man received ahead of his senior season.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this year and my comeback,” Garza said. “Going through the process I learned a lot, but at the end of the day, going through the potential of this team, I felt like it was something I couldn’t refuse and not to be part.

Garza was joined by Baylor senior Jared Butler, Oklahoma State freshman Cade Cunningham and Illinois junior Ayo Dosunmu. Seniors Corey Kispert of Gonzaga and Remy Martin of Arizona State are tied for last place.

Garza was one of the dominant players in college basketball as a junior, averaging 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 54 percent from the floor. The 6-foot-11 forward was an American PA first-team player and finished second behind Dayton’s Obi Toppin in the National Player of the Year vote.

Iowa was ranked No.5 at the top of the program in the AP preseason top 25, in large part because of Garza’s decision to return.

“He could average a point or two less, but all the kid cares about is winning,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffrey said. “It took a while. He didn’t rely on his accomplishments. He is hungrier than he ever was. There is no better example for these young guys than Luka Garza.

The same could be said of Butler.

A 6-3 goaltender, he had a strong freshman season in 2018-19 and was even better in the sophomore, averaging 16.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game to win. the honors of the AP All-America third team.

Baylor looked like a potential Final Four team a year ago before the pandemic canceled the season, and it could be in the mix again now that Butler is back after his withdrawal from the NBA Draft. The Bears were No. 2 in the AP preseason poll, the highest in school history.

“Jared has seen tremendous growth in his first two seasons at Baylor, on and off the field,” said Baylor coach Scott Drew. “He’s always been a great teammate with an infectious personality and now that he’s a top-class man he’s taking on more of a leadership role.

The dynamic Dosunmu also leaned into the NBA before deciding to return, a huge boost for No.8 Illini.

The 6-5 goaltender was the first Illinois player in 20 years to lead the team as a rookie and sophomore. Dosunmu can do a little bit of anything on the pitch, averaging 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 48 percent from the ground last season.

Cunningham arrived at Stillwater with a lot of hype as the highest rated rookie in school history. The 6-8 athletic guard can play the point or fill it in whenever he wants, placing him at the top of many NBA draft tables for 2021.

Cunningham dominated as a high school student in Florida and is expected to make a similar impact in the Big 12 and beyond.

Gonzaga was the AP’s No.1 preseason for the first time and Kispert’s decision to return was a big part of it.

The 6-7 senior is a superb 3-point shooter (44% last season) and a good basket slasher. He averaged 13.9 points and 4.0 rebounds on a deep team last season and will be a key cog in a team with Final Four aspirations.

Martin began his Arizona State career as a bouncy-haired energizer on the bench, lifting his team with a searing, uncompromising defense. The 6 foot guard has since become an undisputed leader in a team loaded with talented guards.

Martin averaged 19.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season and his decision to bypass the NBA to stay for his senior season has high expectations for the 18th-ranked Sun Devils.

He is Arizona State’s second AP All-American preseason, with Ike Diogu in 2003-04.

Others receiving votes: Marcus Zegarowski, Creighton; Collin Gillespie, Villanova; Garrison Brooks, North Carolina; Marcus Garrett, Kansas; Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana; Jalen Crutcher, Dayton; Trendon Watford, LSU; Kofi Cockburn, Illinois; Oliver Sarr, Kentucky; Kihei Clark, Virginia; Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova; Javonte Smart, LSU; Oscar Tshiebwe, West Virginia; Sam Hauser, Virginia.

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AP Sports editor Stephen Hawkins of Dallas contributed to this report.

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