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Seniors Luka Garza of Iowa and Jared Butler of Baylor headline the 2020-21 Preseason All-America Team Associated Press.
They were joined by Cade Cunningham, an Oklahoma State freshman, Illinois junior Ayo Dosunmu, Gonzaga senior Corey Kispert and Arizona State senior Remy Martin. Kispert and Martin are tied for last place with 26 votes each.
Garza was the only unanimous choice, receiving all 64 votes from a national media panel that chose the team released on Wednesday.
“I couldn’t be more excited about this year and coming back,” 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 this was something I couldn’t refuse and not to be a part. ”
The 6-foot-11 Garza was an All-American last season and chose to return to the Hawkeyes after testing the waters of the NBA. He averaged 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds to finish second behind Obi Toppin of Dayton as the AP National Player of the Year.
Iowa was ranked No.5 in the AP preseason’s top 25, largely due to Garza’s decision to return.
“He can average a point or two less, but all that matters to this kid is to win,” said Iowa coach Fran McCaffrey. “He’s been slow. He’s not resting on his accomplishments. He’s hungrier than he ever was. There is no better example for these young guys than Luka Garza.”
Butler was a third All-American team last season and, like Garza, retired his name from the NBA Draft to return for his senior season for the Bears, who are No.2 in the preseason poll. He finished second with 61 votes.
“Jared has shown tremendous growth in his first two seasons at Baylor, both on and off the field,” said Baylor coach Scott Drew. “He’s always been a great teammate with a contagious personality and now that he’s a top class man he’s taken 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 goalie can play the point or fill it up whenever he wants, placing it at the top of many NBA draft tables for 2021.
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 started his Arizona State career with the bouncy-haired energizer on the bench, lifting his team up with spice and 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.
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