Big 12 Men's Basketball Preseason Awards and Team Rankings Announced
Per Big 12 Release:
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Kansas senior Hunter Dickinson is the first student-athlete to garner both Big 12 Men's Basketball Preseason Player and Newcomer of the Year to highlight the 2023-24 awards and team as voted on by the league's head coaches. Dickinson is the 11th Jayhawk to collect the player award and the fifth to earn newcomer. Ja'Kobe Walter picked up Baylor's third consecutive Preseason Freshman of the Year recognition. Dickinson was joined on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team by his teammate Dajuan Harris Jr., Houston's L.J. Cryer, TCU's Emanuel Miller and Texas' Max Abmas. A fourth-year transfer from Michigan, Dickinson earned many national and conference honors with the Wolverines, including Consensus All-America Second Team in 2021. He was a three-time All-Big Ten selection with first team honors in 2022 and 2023. The 7-2 center averaged 17.2 points and 8.4 rebounds for his career and led Michigan in points and rebounds each of the last three seasons. Dickinson has compiled career statistics of 1,617 points, 787 rebounds and 149 blocked shots. The general studies major was named to the All-Big Ten Academic Team in 2022 and 2023. Walter played his senior season of high school at Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, helping the team to a 24-1 record in 2022-23. He was a McDonald's All-America selection and ESPN's No. 17-rated player. Originally from McKinney, Texas, Walter led MHS to its first state championship game, where he scored a team-high 23 points against Duncanville. He averaged 23.3 points and 7.6 rebounds during his junior year and was 5-6A Offensive Player of the Year. Walter also earned a spot on the 2021-22 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Team and the 6A All-State Tournament Team. The Big 12 Preseason Poll will be announced Friday. Preseason Player of the Year: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas, C, 7-2, Sr., Alexandria, Va./Michigan Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas, C, 7-2, Sr., Alexandria, Va./Michigan Preseason Freshman of the Year: Ja'Kobe Walter, Baylor, F, 6-5, McKinney, Texas/Link Academy (Mo.) Preseason All-Big 12 Team
A familiar name is at the top of the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll as Kansas was chosen to win the 2023-24 regular season title in a vote of the Conference’s head coaches. In 28 seasons, KU has been picked outright or tied for first in 20 preseason ledgers and won or shared the regular season championship in 21 years. A coaches’ preseason poll was not conducted in the Big 12’s first season of 1996-97.
Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team. |
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